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THE    SCIENTIFIC    ANGLER. 


BEING   A 


General  and  Instructive  Work  on  Artistic  Angling. 


BY   THE   LATE 

DAVID    FOSTEE. 

COMPILED   BY   HIS   SO:n:S,  Ai^D   EDITED   BY 

WM.    0.    HAREIS, 

EDITOB  OF  THE  ''  AMERICAN  ANGLES.  ' 


II«IiX7STBATED. 


NEW    YORK: 

ORANGE    JUDD    COMPAKY, 

751     BROADWAY. 

1883. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  i"je  year  1883,  by  the 

OEANQE  JUDD   COMPANY, 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


THE  EDITOE'S  PEEFACE. 


David  Foster,  the  author  of  ''The  Scientific  Angler," 
was  born  at  Burton-on-Trent,  England,  September  22d, 
1815,  and  at  the  date  of  his  recent  death,  was  known 
wherever  a  salmon,  trout  or  grayling  fly  is  thrown  in 
the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  as  the  Izaak  Walton  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  This  angling  patronymic,  joined 
to  that  of  ''  Old  David,"  by  which  he  was  more  famil- 
iarly known,  indicates  the  esteem  and  affection  in  which 
he  was  held  by  English  lovers  of  the  angle.  He  was 
certainly  one  of  the  most  observant  and  practical  rod- 
sters  that  England,  where  the  cultured  angler  is  an 
artist,  has  ever  produced.  The  book  before  us  is  an 
attestation  of  this  fact. 

My  province,  as  editor,  has  been  confined  to  foot 
notes,  more  or  less  copious,  m  which  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  make  plain  to  the  American  reader  the  ang- 
ling phrases,  terms  and  tackle  used  in  England,  giving, 
so  far  as  practicable,  American  analogues  of  the  English 
fish.     The  text  of  the  author  remains  untouched,  with 

the  exception  of  the  exclusion  of  a  few  paragraphs  on 
3 

288 


4  THE  editor's   PEEFACE. 

fishing  for  barbel,  bream,  and  tench,  and  the  chapter 
on  fish  culture — the  reader  would  have  found  in  the 
former  but  little  of  value,  and  the  latter  is  far  behind 
the  present  advanced  status  of  fish  culture  in  America. 
It  will  be  noted  that  the  foot  notes,  which  are  all 
my  own,  are  free  from  critical  comments  on  the  author's 
views;  from  which  I  have  designedly  abstained,  although 
not  a  few  paragraphs  of  the  text  are  in  conflict  with  the 
approved  practice  of  the  best  American  anglers. 

WM.  C.  HARRIS. 

New  York,  1883. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Chapter  I. 
The  Habits  and  Haunts  of  Fish 7 

Chapter  H. 
The  Habits  and  Haunts  of  Fish  (Continued) 32 

Chapter  HI, 
Bottom  Fishing  (General) 44 

Chapter  FV*. 
Bottom  Fishing  (Con^int^d) 59 

Chapter  V. 

Bottom  Fishing  (Conftnwed) 64 

Chapter  VI. 

Pike  Fishing. - 70 

Chapter  VII. 

Spinning  for  Trout 83 

Chapter  VIII. 
Worm  Fishing  for  Trout 92 

Chapter  IX. 

Grub  Fishing  for  GrayUng 97 

5 


6  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  X. 

Piscatorial  Entomology 101 

Chapter  XI. 

On  Fly  Making 123 

Chapter  XII. 

Fly  Fishing  for  Trout  and  Grayling. .145 

Chapter  XIII. 

Live  Fly  and  Beetle  Fishing 183 

Chapter  XIV. 

Notes  on  the  Month  for  Fly  Fishing. 185 

Chapter  XV. 

Salmon  and  Sea  Trout  Fishing 224 

Chapter  XVI. 
About  Hooks 240 


THE  SCIENTIFIC  ANGLEE. 


CHAPTER   I. 


THE   HABITS   AND    HAUNTS    OF    FISH. 

POWER  OF  VISION,  HEARING,  ETC.,  POSSESSED  BY  FISH.*  PERI- 
ODIC MOVEMENTS  AND  HABITS  OF  SALMON,  BROWN  TROUT, 
CHARR,   GRAYLING,  AND  PIKE. 

The  habits  of  fish  depend  in  no  small  degree  on  the 
power  of  their  senses,  and  to  these  we  will  briefly  allude 
before  dealing  with  the  subject  in  detail.  The  first 
faculty  to  claim  our  attention  is  that  of 

Sight. — The  clearness  with  which  a  grayling,  lying 

*  The  subject  of  the  senses  of  fishes  is  the  cause  of  much  curious 
comment  and  speculation  among  angling  naturalists,  Avho  do  not  wil- 
lingly consent  that  the  class  Pisces  shall  be  placed  upon  a  plane  below 
that  of  the  insects.  The  belief  that  fishes  possess  qualities  which 
reach  a  standard  beyond  the  instinct  of  self-preservation  has  recently 
gained  in  strength  and  interest,  owing  to  the  increased  facilities  that 
fish  culture  has  given  us  to  observe  their  habits.  It  is  conceded  by 
naturalists  that  certain  insects,  and  many  of  the  lower  animals,  have  the 
power  of  imparting  mutual  intelligence  b}'  processes  unknown  to  us. 
The  little  ants  hobnobbing  with  each  other  ;  the  cooing  dove  wooing  its 
mate  vocally ;  the  hen  clucking  her  brood  under  protecting  wings,  are 
familiar  instances  of  vocal  intercourse  among  insects  and  birds,  and  no 
one  who  has  watched  the  minnows  of  a  shallow  pool,  has  failed  to  see 
equally  sure  indications  that  fishes  have  a  way  of  their  own  in  com- 
municating with  each  other.  I  have  often  seen  them  dart  SAvif tly  to- 
wards each  other,  putting  nose  to  nose,  and  in  a  moment  or  two  scull 
leisurely  away  with  what  looked  to  me  like  a  self-congratulatory  flirt  of 
the  tail,  as  if  the  matter  communicated  was  of  the  utmost  importance, 
to  fish  life  in  general. 

(7) 


8  THE   SCIE>>^TIFIC   Ai^GLER. 

at  a  depth  of  eight  or  ten  feet  of  water,  can  distinguish 
a  small  speck  of  a  midge,  invisible  almost  to  the  human 
eye,  is  often  a  matter  of  comment  and  surprise.  All 
fish,  however,  are  not  equally  well  endowed  in  this  re- 
spect; but  it  may  be  safely  affirmed  that  their  organs  of 
sight  are  quite  as  well  adapted  to  their  native  element — 
water — as  are  ttiose  of  birds  and  respiratory  animals 
generally  to  the  atmosphere.  But,  on  the  other  hand, 
experience  tends  to  prove  that  the  more  suited  the  eye  of 
the  fish  may  be  to  his  particular  element,  the  more  in- 
distinct is  his  vision  beyond  it.  We  have  an  instance  of 
this  in  the  grayling,  which,  although  more  cautious  and 
timid,  and  possessed  of  keener  visual  organs  than  the 
trout,  will  rise  much  nearer  the  rodster,  and  is  not  so 
easily  disturbed  and  affrighted.  The  inferiority  of  a 
fish's  perception  of  objects  in  the  air,  as  compared  with 
what  is  in  or  upon  the  surface  of  the  water,  partly  arises 
from  the  fact  that  the  eye  adapts  itself  to  the  medium 
through  which  the  rays  of  light  are  transmitted.  We 
have  frequently  observed  the  pupil  of  a  fish's  eye  con- 
tract considerably  in  the  course  of  a  second  or  two  after 
it  has  been  taken  from  the  water,  from  the  same  princi- 
ple which  causes  the  pupil  of  the  eye  of  the  domestic  cat 
to  expand  or  contract  as  the  light  diminishes  or  increases. 
Observation  shows  that  it  is  the  moving  object  that 
frightens  the  fish.*  We  have  seen  trout  suddenly  cease 
feeding  and  return  to  their  accustomed  retreat  upon  our 
merely  raising  an  arm;  and  when  their  *^holt"  has 
proved  to  be  near  the  opposite  bank,  and  we  have  been 

*  Fish  are  startled  by  shadows  to  a  degree  hardly  understood  or 
valued,  as  cause  and  effect,  by  the  angler  in  his  search  for  a  successful 
score.  A  moving  dark  line  reflected  by  an  uplifted  arm,  or  by  an 
overhanging  rod,  or  the  dense  and  sharply-cut  shadow  east  by  the 
pier  of  a  bridge,  will  cause  them  to  sheer  off  affrighted  ;  especially  in 
the  latter  instance,  when  shad,  in  their  upward  swim  to  their  spawning 
grounds,  have  been  seen  to  turn  tail-fln  and  dart  down  stream  pell-mell, 
as  If  a  demon  shark  was  among  them. 


THE  HABITS  AND   HAUNTS   OF   FISH.  9 

in  full  view,  in  clear  relief  upon  a  high  bank,  on  keeping 
perfectly  stationary  for  fifty  to  seventy  minutes,*  they 
have  again  ventured  into  the  open  to  take  our  fly.  From 
a  constant  repetition  of  convincing  experiments,  we  have 
been  led  to  infer  that  the  crystallme  and  various  other 
humors  of  a  fish's  eye  are  capable  of  reflecting  only  a 
vague  and  distorted  image  of  any  object  that  may  be 
even  a  yard  from  the  water's  surface.  We  have  stood 
over  the  center  of*a  stream,  upon  a  narrow  plank,  placed 
withm  a  few  inches  of  the  surface  of  the  water,  perfectly 
motionless,  just  as  the  fish  have  turned  out  of  their 
usual  haunts  to  poise  near  the  surface,  and  feed  on  the 
flies  which  have  suddenly  become  plentiful.  So  long  as 
our  perpendicular  position  was  maintained,  the  fish  rose 
fearlessly  all  around  to  our  very  feet,  but  the  least  move- 
ment had  the  effect  of  affrighting  all  the  fish  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity. 

But,  notwithstanding  all  this,  it  must  not  be  forgot- 
ten that  the  organ  of  sight  is  the  most  important  in 
their  possession,  and  not  only  their  food  supply,  but 
their  very  existence  is  dependent  upon  its  proper  exer- 
cise. True  it  IS  that  constant  practice,  in  a  measure, 
develops  their  ocular  faculties;  and  as  acuteness  of  vis- 
ion increases  the  natural  timidity  of  the  trout,  so  surely 
does  he  gradually  decline  surface  feeding,  preying  upon 
fry  and  the  smaller  yearling  fish,  as  also  upon  the  larvae 
of  aquatic  insects,  etc.,  thus  showing  reliance  on  his 
greater  powers  of  discernment  in  his  own  element.  In 
comparatively  clear  and  still  water,  the  old  corpulent 
denizens  of  the  limpid  depths  thus  exhibit  the  most  pro- 
voking discretion,  defying  frequently  the  rodster's  best 
efforts  to  allure. 

The  superior  power  of  .vision  the  fish  has  in  its  own 

*This  Is  certainly  a  misprint,  for  we  have  noted  that  trout  will  return, 
under  like  circumstances,  to  their  feed,  after  a  lapse  of  from  three  to 
five  minutes. 


10  THE  SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

element*  is  partly  due  to  the  fact  that  light,  like  sound, 
on  penetrating  water  suffers  an  alteration,  both  of  the 
rate  of  progress  and  the  direction  of  the  rays.  Eefrac- 
tion  enables  the  fish  to  see  an  approaching  or  moving 
object,  even  when  a  projecting  bank  or  overhanging  rock 
or  other  substance  intervenes.  Mr.  Eotialds  illustrates 
this  by  a  familiar  scientific  experiment  with  a  coin  and 
vessel  of  water,  by  which  the  former,  when  placed  in 
the  bottom  of  the  latter,  is  seen  at  an  acute  angle,  when 
the  side  of  the  vessel  intercepts  a  straight  line  between 
the  coin  and  the  eye  of  the  spectator.  We  have  known 
cultivators  of  domesticated  trout,  who,  being  unacquaint- 
ed with  the  laws  of  refraction,  have  attributed  this  to 
various  other  causes. 

Sense  of  Hearing. — That  trout  are  not  wholly  de- 
void of  this  sense  is  now  a  well  established  axiom.  There 
is  nothing  about  the  exterior  of  the  head  of  a  fresh-water 
fish  that  would  indicate  that  it  is  provided  with  an  ear. 
Our  leading  physiologists  and  anatomists  assert,  never- 
theless, that  fish  and  other  aquatic  creatures  have  the 
internal  organ  in  a  state  of  perfection.  In  animals  of 
higher  grade  the  mechanical  apparatus  of  hearing  con- 
sists of  two  connected  portions,  external  and  internal. 
Fish  appear  to  have  the  internal  part,  which  is  in  direct 
communication  with  the  brain.  The  organs  of  hearing 
possessed  by  terrestrial  animals  are  designed  for  the 
reception  of  the  more  delicate  vibrations  of  the  atmos- 

*  A  few  summers  ago,  when  fishing  for  black  bass,  using  a  small  gray 
and  black  palmer  as  a  point  fly,  I  made  a  cast  at  the  tail  of  a  shallow 
reach,  just  above  an  old  fish  weir.  The  water,  for  a  stretch  of  at  least 
fifty  yards,  was  not  more  than  two  feet  deep.  As  my  fly  touched  the 
water,  a  whistle  from  a  fishing  chum  attracted  my  attention,  and  I 
glanced  up  stream.  At  that  moment  I  saw  the  swirl  of  a  bass  thirty 
feet  away,  and  immediately  after  the  wake,  as  the  fish  "struck  a  bee- 
line"  for  my  fly.  The  pluck  was  instantaneous  and  sure,  and  in  a  few 
moments  a  two-pounder  was  creeled.  This  incident  convinced  me  that 
the  scns-i  of  sight  in  fishes,  when  exercised  in  their  natural  element,  la 
much  greater  than  that  with  which  they  are  credited. 


THE  HABITS   AKD   HAUNTS  OF   FISH.  11 

phere,  while  those  of  the  fish  are  better  adapted  to  the 
stronger  pulsations  of  a  denser  element.  Thus,  though 
the  inhabitants  of  the  waters  are  insensible  to  atmos- 
pheric sound,  they  are  very  susceptible  to  vibrations  of 
the  earth  which  are  communicated  to  the  water,  and  are 
undistinguishable  by  us. 

Who  has  not  observed  the  terrified  agitation  of  the 
fish,  as  far  as  the  eyes  can  penetrate  the  water,  at  the 
least  perceptible  vibration  caused  by  the  stamp  of  the 
foot  on  the  bottom  of  a  punt  or  boat?  We  have  frequently 
ourselves  seen  fish  clear  the  water  altogether  in  ponds  and 
lakes  at  a  distance  of  forty  yards  from  the  point  or  focus 
of  concussion.  That  sound  is  not  communicated  only  by 
the  external  ear  may  be  seen  by  the  following  experiment: 
Take  an  ordinary  tuning  fork,  strike  it,  and  take  the  full 
volume  of  the  sound  quite  close  to  the  ear,  then  strike 
again  and  place  the  handle  against  or  between  the  teeth, 
when,  though  at  some  distance  from  the  ear,  the  sound 
will  not  be  found  to  be  diminished.  Vibrations  vary  in 
intensity  according  to  the  degree  of  solidity  and  density 
of  the  conductive  bodies.  Thus,  we  are  told  that  in  the 
atmosphere  sound  travels  at  the  rate  of  something  like 
one  thousand  feet  per  second  on  bright,  clear  days,  but 
eleven  hundred  in  murky,  dull  and  hazy  weather.  In 
water,  however,  sound  travels  very  much  quicker,  being 
at  the  rate  of  five  thousand  feet  per  second,  and  where 
wood  is  the  medium  quicker  still,  sixteen  thousand  feet 
per  second  being  its  rate  of  progress.  If,  therefore,  a 
sohd  substance  is  the  conductoi-  of  sound,  it  naturally 
follows  that  the  sound  will  be  more  distinct.  The  opera- 
tor upon  the  violin  has  a  keener  perception  of  the  vari- 
ous strains  of  the  instrument  than  the  ordinary  listener, 
since  wood  is  the  sole  conductive  body  in  his  case.  The 
organ  of  hearing  being  enclosed  in  the  hard  case  of  the 
head  is,  in  the  case  of  fishes,  susceptible  therefore  to  no 
slight  variation  of  sounds;  no  noise  that  does  not  occa- 


12  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AXGLER. 

sion  a  vibration  of  the  element  which  they  inhabit  reaches 
them.  Thus  the  effects  of  approaching  heavy  foot-falls 
will  be  perceived,  when  a  loud  acclamation  will  have  no 
visible  effect  on  them.  A  learned  doctor  of  divinity, 
once  known  to  the  writer,  used  to  include  in  his  category 
of  angling  requisites  a  gigantic  musical-box,  which,  for 
bottom  fishing,  it  was  supposed,  served  the  double  pur- 
pose of  being  a  convenient  seat  and  a  charming  substi- 
tute for  ground  bait.  So  far  as  the  latter  object  was 
concerned,  the  effect  was  purely  imaginary,  as,  to  the 
impartial  mind,  results  amply  testified.* 

We  have  now  dealt  with  the  two  chief  organs  possessed 
by  fish,  namely,  those  of  sight  and  hearing,  a  knowledge 
of  both  of  which  is  highly  important  to  the  angler.  With 
regard  to  the  senses  of  taste  and  smell,  we  may  briefly 
state  that  from  what  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain  they 
are  very  slightly  developed;  that  of  taste  we  do  not  be- 
lieve is  possessed  in  the  faintest  degree  by  the  majority 
of  fish.f  Roach,  grayling,  and  the  smaller  species  of  deli- 

*  It  is  concGded  by  observant  anglers,  that  fish  hear  no  sound  origi- 
nating in  the  air;  but  step,  as  lightly  as  you  may,  upon  the  margin  of  a 
stream  and  the  fish  will  scatter  like  shot  from  the  shallows  where  they 
are  feeding  or  frolick:ing.  The  larger  the  fish  and  the  less  the  depth 
of  water  the  greater  and  wilder  the  scattering  will  be.  Security  seems 
to  lie  with  them  in  the  relative  depth  of  the  pools,  as  the  light  steps  of 
the  angler  only  disturb  them  in  a  foot  or  two  of  water.  A  fish  lying  in 
a  hole  three  or  four  feet  deep,  close  to  the  banks  is  not  perturbed  by 
any  ordinary  concussion. 

tin  this  connection  intelligent  anglers  are  apt  to  query  :  "Granted 
that  fishes  are  only  slightly,  if  at  all,  endowed  with  the  sense  of  taste  or 
smell,  why  do  trout,  black  bass  and  other  fish  reject  the  artificial  lure  if 
the  hook  is  not  instantly  fastened  in  their  jaws  or  throat  ?"  1  answer  : 
Fresh-water  fishes,  such  as  trout,  bass,  etc.,  feed  as  a  rule  upon  soft  food. 
The  shell  of  the  Crustacea  of  our  inland  lakes  and  streams  is  edibly  ten- 
der, and  suggests  no  anomaly  to  the  feel  of  the  tongue  or  jaw  of  the 
fish.  Not  so  with  the  fatal  hook.  Its  gritty  impact  with  the  closing 
jaw  or  tongue  suggests  a  foreign  subtance.  It  is  foul  food  and  as  such 
is  instantly  rejected.  Again,  the  sheep'shead,  drum  and  other  salt- 
water species,  feeding  upon  clams  and  muscles,  crunching  the  shells 
with  their  massive  teeth  and  strong  jaws  do  not  eject  the  lure  ;  on  the 


THE   HABITS   AND   HAUNTS   OF   FISH.  13 

cate  organism  we  have  found  display  fastidiousness  in 
this  respect,  but  the  mass  of  voracious  fish  we  believe  to 
be  totally  devoid  of  all  sense  of  it.  The  nostrils  are 
doubtless  the  medium  by  which  impurities  in  the  water 
are  detected.  Certain  it  is  that  such  impurities  are  per- 
ceived,  and  whenever  possible  avoided,  as  is  plainly  ex- 
emplified in  these  days  of  river  pollution. 

Apart  from  the  above  causes  the  movements  of  fish, 
both  migratory  and  non-migratory,  are  generally  deter- 
mined by  one  of  two  causes;  first,  by  the  search  after 
suitable  places  for  the  deposit  of  their  eggs,  a  certain 
temperature  of  water  being  necessary  to  vivify  them;  and 
secondly  by  the  quest  of  food.  The  movements  of  all 
animals  which  feed  on  living  creatures  are  greatly  in- 
fluenced by  the  habits  of  the  creatures  preyed  upon,  and 
fish  offer  no  exception  to  this  rule.  We  shall  now  pro- 
ceed to  lay  before  our  readers  a  comprehensive  view  of 
what  has  taken  us  well  nigh  fifty  years  of  patient  appli- 
cation to  acquire,  namely,  the  characteristic  habits  and 
movements  of  anadromous  and  non-migratory  fish,  a 
knowledge  of  which  it  is  incumbent  upon  every  fisher- 
man to  possess. 

The  Salmon* — {Salmo  solar,) — As  is  well  known, 
these  fish,  with  other  orders  of  the  same  family,  else- 
where described,  pass  a  portion  of  each  year  in  salt  water, 
descending  to  the  sea  after  they  have  deposited  their 
spawn  on  the  gravelly  beds  of  the  higher  portions  of 
rivers.  The  time  of  migration  varies  in  different  waters; 
thus  we  hear  of  early  and  late  rivers.     The  spawning 

contrary,  to  ensure  a  probable  capture,  they  are  permitted  by  the  angler ', 
to  move  off  without  restraint  until  the  shell  is  crunched  or  the  naked 
bait  pouched — a  decisive  moment— when  the  strike  must  be  made  in 
stanter.  These  flsh  are  accustomed  to  mouthing  hard  substances,  hence 
do  not  "spit  out"  the  hook,  if  felt,  when  taking  the  naked  or  shell- 
covered  hook. 

*  The  Salmon  (Scdmo  solar)  of  Great  Britain  is  similar  in  its  habits, 
coloration,  etc.,  to  the  salmon  of  American  Atlantic  waters. 


14  THE   SCIEN"TIFIC   AIs^GLER. 

season  ranges  from  March  to  November.  The  majority 
of  mature  fish  ascend  and  descend  at  fixed  periods,  the 
time  chosen  generally  bemg  during  a  flood.  The  early 
spring  floods  bring  the  first  and  mam  instalments  to  the 
sources  of  the  rivers;  but  in  the  event  of  these  failing, 
the  fish  often  prolong  their  stay  in  salt  water  bays  and  m 
the  mouths  of  rivers  until  the  first  rising  of  water  will 
admit  of  a  passage.  There  are  in  most  salmon  rivers 
numerous  weirs  so  constructed  as  to  render  the  passage 
of  fish  an  impossibility,  except  during  a  heavy  flood.  In 
waters  where  these  artificial  obstructions  do  not  exist, 
migratory  fish  pass  frequently  to  and  fro,  these  periodic 
ascents  being  doubtless  occasioned  by  the  quest  of  food. 
For  a  salmon  to  remain  in  good  condition  for  a  pro- 
tracted period  in  fresh  water  would  appear  to  be  an  im- 
possibility. Their  ova  are  vivified  and  their  young 
flourish  in  the  inland  streams,  but  after  attaining  a  given 
size  their  growth  stops,  and  they  sicken  and  die  if  the 
passage  to  salt  water  is  obstructed.  The  cleansing  in- 
fluence of  the  marine  trip  is  necessary  at  least  every  two 
years,  even  when  the  supply  of  food  in  fresh  water  is  am- 
ple, which  is  seldom  the  case.  The  freshly  run  fish  may 
be  said  to  be  invariably  fat,  and  in  the  best  possible  con- 
dition, not  only  in  the  substance  of  the  flesh,  but  in  the 
large  quantities  of  adipose  matter  which  is  found  on  the 
pyloric  appendages,  which  secret  store  serves  as  an  inter- 
nal source  of  sustenance,  supporting  the  fish  during  its 
summer  stay  in  fresh  water,  where  food  is  comparatively 
scarce. 

It  IS  often  asserted  that  anadromous  fish  will  not  feed 
except  in  salt  water,  and  that  their  internal  fat  sustains 
them  when  absent  from  it.  This  is  most  certainly 
erroneous,  as  migratory  fish  are  not  more  given  to  fasting 
than  are  any  other  fresh  water  species  when  food  is  plen- 
tiful. The  young  of  both  grayling  and  trout  suffer 
greatly  from  the  presence  of  salmon  in  the  tributaries  of 


THE   HABITS   AKD   HAUNTS   OF   FISH.  15 

our  rivers,  the  former  particularly  are  sought  after  and 
taken  by  them. 

A  salmon  in  its  young  stafce  is  commonly  called  a  parr, 
smolt,  smelt,  or  samlet.  When  at  this  stage  they  rise 
boldly  at  the  artificial  trout-fly,  but  it  is  unlawful  to  take 
them.  The  terms  for  the  young  of  other  migratory  fish 
{Salmo7iid(B)  are  scad,  shed,  black-tip,  blue-fin,  hipper, 
etc.  *  When  the  young  of  these  fish  attain  a  length  of 
about  six  inches,  which  they  do  in  from  eighteen  months 
to  two  years  from  the  time  of  hatching,  they  descend  to 
the  sea,  where  their  stay  is,  generally  speaking,  about 
four  months.  Upon  the  first  return  of  the  young  fish, 
after  a  sojourn  of  about  this  period,  it  is  commonly 
termed  a  grilse  or  salmon-peal.  The  term  '^kelt"  is  ap- 
plied to  male  or  female  after  spawning  time,  the  male 
being  also  specially  distinguished  by  the  appellation, 
"  kipper."  The  fish  then  assume  the  color  and  form  of 
the  fully  developed  fish.  With  regard  to  the  hard  and 
fast  rules  usually  given  for  their  growth  and  develop- 
ment, their  stay  in  their  native  or  in  salt  water,  we  may 
state  that  great  variation  exists  among  individuals  liv- 
ing under  the  same  apparent  conditions.  The  piscicul- 
turist well  knows  that  a  portion  of  every  brood  or  hatch 
of  fish  are  larger,  stronger,  and  more  vigorous  than  the 
remainder,  and  the  same  thing  is  exemplified  when  the 
fish  attain  maturity.  We  cannot  endorse  the  statements 
of  some  who  affirm,  though  they  never  attempted  to 
prove,  that  the  fry  mature  so  quickly  and  grow  so  rapid- 
ly, when  at  liberty,  as  to  be  able  to  descend  to  the  sea 

*  As  a  curious  illustration  of  the  fecundity  of  popular  nomenclature 
as  applied  to  fishes,  I  append  a  partial  list  of  names  by  which  the  salmon 
is,  or  has  been,  known  in  Great  Britain  :  Baggit,  beikat,  bluecap,  blue 
poll,  brandling,  brandlin,  chine,  cudding,  shoe,  farthing  trout,  finnack, 
fork-tail,  gravelin,  gibfish,  grilse,  gresle-kelt,  gouries,  half-fish,  heppar, 
kelt,  kepper-grisle,  kilty,  kipper,  laspring,  lax,  lewin,  ligger,  pink,  pug, 
rawner,  salmon-sprint,  samlet,  sewiu,  simen,  skeggar,  skirling,  smelt, 
smoot,  Bparllng,  sprag,  sprod,  summer-cock,  trotter,  etc. 


16  THE  SCIENTIFIC  ANGLER. 

within  twelve  months  from  the  hatching  period.  Of  their 
rapid  growth  during  the  marine  trip  we  have  had  ample 
proof;  this  is  perfectly  rational,  the  sea  being  the  feeding 
ground  for  the  whole  family  of  migratory  fish,  the  abun- 
dance of  small  animalculae  therein  contained  forming  a 
never-failing  supply  to  the  immigrants. 

In  ascending  rivers,  salmon  usually  keep  near  one  side 
of  the  bottom  of  the  water,  but  when  their  tributaries 
are  being  ascended,  they  take  the  middle  of  the  swiftest 
streams.  When  a  stream  forms  the  outlet  of  a  lake,  or 
any  sheet  of  water  known  to  be  the  annual  resort  of 
migratory  fish,  it  is  of  the  most  vital  importance  that  no 
obstruction  be  erected  to  arrest  their  passage.  There  has 
been  a  considerable  falling  off  in  the  takes  of  salmon 
during  the  last  twenty  years  or  so.  This  may  be  attrib- 
uted to  three  combined  causes;  (first)  the  erection  of 
weirs  and  flood  gates;  (second)  river  pollution;  (third) 
the  depredation  of  the  fungoid  growth,  termed  the  salmon 
disease. 

With  regard  to  the  first  and  second  causes  here  given, 
we  will  take  the  particular  case  of  the  Trent.  This  river 
was  formerly  one  of  the  most  important  for  salmon  yields 
in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  it  still  ranks  next  to  the 
Thames  for  its  yields  of  other  fish.  The  river  itself, 
devoid  of  tributaries,  is  of  the  following  extent :  In  Lin- 
colnshire, twenty  miles;  in  Nottinghamshire,  fifty-five 
miles;  in  Derbyshire,  thirty  miles;  and  in  Staffordshire, 
forty  miles.  The  tributaries  take  their  rise  at  fifteen 
hundred  to  nineteen  hundred  feet  above  the  sea  level, 
and  are  pure.  They  extend  as  follows:  The  Dove  and 
Churnet,  sixty-three  miles;  Wye  and  Derwent,  sixty-seven 
miles;  the  Soar  and  Wreck  (Leicestershire),  sixty-five 
miles,  the  Idle,  forty-five  miles;  the  Blythe  and  Anker, 
thirty-five  miles;  the  Terme,  twenty-five  miles;  the 
Tame,  twenty-five  miles;  the  Erewash,  Sow  (Stafford- 
shire), and  Devon  river,  each  twenty  miles.     The  whole 


THE   HABITS   AIS'D   HAUNTS   OF  FISH.  17 

of  the  above  streams,  owing  to  the  rapid  fall  in  most 
cases,  and  the  purity  and  cool  temperature  of  their 
waters,  were  the  annual  resort  of  salmon  and  other 
migratory  fish  in  immense  numbers  a  tew  generations 
back.  What  do  we  find  to  be  the  case  to-day?  The 
salmon  are  debarred  from  ascending  even  the  main  river, 
except  during  heavy  Hoods,  by  senselessly  contrived  weirs 
at  different  points,  and  with  the  same  exception,  the  pas- 
sage up  the  Derwent  is  entirely  shut  off  by  weirs  below 
Derby.  In  respect  to  the  Dove,  being  swift;  and  of  ex- 
cessively rapid  fall,  it  was  originally  the  favorite  resort  of 
Trent  salmon,  many  of  which  would  ascend  as  high  as 
Dovedale.  There  are  some  four  or  five  weirs  that  are 
rendered  passable  only  when  the  river  is  bank-full,  after 
a  very  heavy  shoot  of  water  from  the  hills,  until  Kocester 
is  reached,  where  there  is  situated  a  weir  that  is  impass- 
able at  all  times  from  its  peculiar  construction.  All  this 
may  seem  strange  to  those  of  our  readers  who  have  been 
led  to  imagine  that  the  natural  buoyancy  and  strength  of 
anadromous  fish  enable  them  to  overcome  both  ordinary 
and  extraordinary  difficulties  in  the  way  of  impediments 
to  their  upward  course.  It  is,  nevertheless,  the  fact  that 
salmon  are  to  be  annually  seen  for  weeks  and  even  months 
vainly  trying  to  ascend  an  obstruction,  known  to  be  an 
effectual  bar  to  their  upward  progress,  until  finally  they 
deposit  their  spawn  at  the  point  where  the  passage  is  ar- 
rested, whether  suitable  or  not.  Salmon  leap  to  a  great 
height  to  surmount  a  cascade  or  perpendicular  fall,  but 
the  long  slanting  weirs  are  not  to  be  stemmed  when  they 
exceed  a  given  length  and  angle. 

But  to  return.  The  Tame  is  now  polluted  to  such  an 
extent  that  even  pike  fail  of  late  to  flourish  in  it.  The 
main  river,  too,  is  now  also  polluted  so  as  to  admit  only 
of  the  presence  of  fresh  run  migratory  fish  when  flooded 
by  its  tributaries.  Thus,  out  of  five  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  miles  of  water  only  a  very  few  can  be  accessible  to  the 


18  THE  SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

salmon  as  spawning  ground.  It  will,  therefore,  be  seen 
that,  taking  the  noble  Trent  as  a  type,  salmon  in  English 
waters,  unless  more  urgently  looked  to  by  the  district 
conservators  and  other  responsible  bodies,  will  soon  be  a 
thing  of  the  past. 

The  fungoid  disease,  named  as  the  third  cause  of  the 
falling  off  of  the  product  of  salmon  in  our  largest  and 
most  important  rivers,  is  most  disastrous  in  its  results, 
and  when  it  attacks  the  fish  in  the  spring  or  early  sum- 
mer months  its  depredations  are  great.  Owing  to  the 
circumstance  of  its  being  unknown  to  salt  water,  the 
gradual  growth  of  fungus  oyer  the  fish  is  speedily  ar- 
rested, and  finally  cleansed  away  when  the  fish  leave  the 
rivers.  This  fungoid  growth,  so  detrimental  to  the  well- 
being  and  life  of  fish,  has  been  termed  the  salmon  disease, 
which  is  anything  but  a  correct  appellation,  seeing  that 
its  deadly  effects  are  often  even  more  marked  in  the  case 
of  trout  and  other  fish.  This  disease  is  a  choleraic  dis- 
order, and  we  are  told  owes  its  immediate  origin  to  ani- 
mal or  vegetable  substances,  one  or  both,  in  a  state  of 
poisonous  decomposition  in  the  water.  Effectual  reme- 
dies there  would  appear  to  be  none.  The  only  safe  and 
efficient  remedial  course  would  appear  to  be  to  avoid 
river  pollution,  and  thus  purify  instead  of  putrify  water 
containing  fish.  Occasionally,  however,  this  deadly  dis- 
order is  found  to  be  rife  in  waters  that  cannot  have  been 
polluted  by  any  of  the  numerous  impurities  to  which  the 
waters  of  populated  districts  are  exposed,  and  in  these 
instances  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  presence  of  decay- 
ing vegetable  substances  is  owing  to  protracted  unhealthy 
weather. 

Salmon  frequent  only  the  northern  and  temperate 
parts  of  the  earth.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the  in- 
habitants of  the  more  southern  latitudes,  when  mature, 
are  much  inferior,  both  as  regards  size  and  gameness  of 
disposition — this  at  least  in  the  eastern   hemisphere — • 


THE  HABITS   AND   HAUNTS   OF   FISH.  19 

to  those  of  colder  regions.  In  Norway  these  fish  are 
capable  of  attaining  a  prodigious  size  and  weight,  eighty 
to  ninety  pounds  occasionally,  whilst  in  the  waters  of 
Britain,  the  adult  fish  very  rarely  attain  to  one  half  that 
weight. 

The  Common  Trout* — {Salmo  fario), — For  variety 
of  size,  color,  and  disposition,  the  brown  or  common  trout 
may  be  said  to  eclipse  all  other  species.  Every  loch  and 
river,  and  almost  every  tributary,  has  ifcs  variety.  The 
geological  formation  of  the  bed  of  the  river,  the  aquatic 
vegetation,  and  the  quality  and  description  of  the  food 
obtained  by  the  fish,  have  much  to  do  with  this  varia- 
tion. No  fish  can  be  said  to  be  so  widely  distributed,  or 
so  capable  of  affording  more  variety  of  sport,  from  the 
lordly  Thames  fish  to  the  game  little  denizens  of  the 
Devon  streams.  Trout  will  flourish  in  almost  all  waters 
capable  of  sustaining  fish,  but  their  chosen  resorts  are 
rapid,  clear  mountain  streams,  the  jostling  waters  of 
which,  foaming  amidst  fragments  of  rock,  whirling  and 
surging  in  their  rapid  course,  form  numerous  cascades 
and  caverned  banks.  Such  are  the  favorite  haunts  of 
the  trout.  The  merest  rill  of  clear  and  rapid  water  will 
often  contain  vast  quantities  of  these  fish,  when  from  its 
appearance  it  would  be  deemed  incapable  of  sustaining  a 
single  fin.  Under  shelving  banks  and  submerged  sub- 
stances, amongst  roots  of  trees  bordering  the  banks  of 

*  The  common  brown  trout  of  English  waters  is  described  by  Ronalds 
as  follows  :  "  The  back  fin  has  a  pale  brown  color,  with  dark  spots  upon 
it;  the  other  fins,  including  the  tail,  have  a  red  tint.  The  color  of  the 
back,  when  in  perfect  condition,  is  usually  a  dark  olive-green,  studded 
with  a  mixture  of  black  and  brownish  spots.  The  sides  are  shaded  off 
from  the  olive  to  a  greenish-yellow,  studded  with  red  spots,  the  black 
spots  gradually  vanishing.  Lower  down  the  yellow  tint  approaches  a 
salmon  color,  and  the  belly  is  nearly  white,  without  any  spots."  It 
will  be  seen  at  once  that  the  English  congener  of  our  own  brook  trout 
wears  quite  a  sober  livery  in  comparison  with  that  of  the  American 
mountain  beauty ;  their  habits,  however,  are  closely  allied  to  those  of 
our  native  fiah. 


20  THE   SCIEiiTTIFIC   ANGLER. 

the  streams,  trout  secrete  themselves  when  not  feeding. 
A  casual  observer,  after  a  careful  and  prolonged  inspec- 
tion along  its  banks,  may  often  affirm  that  a  length 
upon  a  noted  trout  stream  is  wholly  devoid  of  fish, 
when  the  subsequent  appearance  of  surface  food  will 
prove  the  water  to  be  alive  with  them,  and  they  may  as 
suddenly  disappear  when  the  insects  leave  the  water's 
surface  to  secrete  themselves  before  an  impending  atmos- 
pheric change.  In  some  districts  trout  spawn  in  winter, 
in  others  in  October  and  November,  or  in  December, 
and  elsewhere  in  January  and  in  February,  or  in  March. 
The  precise  time  depends  also  in  a  measure  on  the  pre- 
vailing state  of  the  weather  and  water.  In  the  close 
season,  trout  leave  the  larger  streams,  ascending  the 
brooks  and  rivulets,  in  the  gravelly  bottoms  of  which 
they  deposit  their  spawn.  When  this  operation  is  ef- 
fected, they  disperse  to  their  wonted  haunts,  the  tails  of 
currents,  lying  for  the  most  part  above  and  below  pools 
and  slow  running  deeps,  behind  any  impediment  to  the 
running  water,  such  as  thick  piles  and  sunken  timber. 
As  they  get  into  condition  they  move  to  stronger  water, 
occasionally  for  this  purpose  ascending  brooks  whose 
waters  may  be  turbulent  and  strong  to  their  very  source. 
Here  they  hnger  by  the  edges  of  streams  that  flow  into 
the  throats  of  the  pools,  and  at  this  period  rise  boldly 
and  unsuspectingly  for  a  time,  and  can  then  be  allured 
by  the  novice  in  a  comparatively  easy  manner.  After 
the  lapse  of  a  few  short  weeks,  as  the  water  and  weather 
become  clearer  and  brighter,  the  trout  grow  cautious, 
where  heavily  fished  over,  they  having  now  entirely  re- 
covered their  customary  vigor,  and  with  it  their  beauty 
of  form  and  color.  They  now  take  up  their  old  posi- 
tions, vacated  prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  spawn- 
ing season.  These  are  chosen  as  vantage  ground  for 
food,  the  largest  fish  occupying  the  best  feeding  ground; 
and  when  one  of  these  has  been  extracted,  the  next  best 


THE   HABITS   Aiq"D   HAUITTS   OF   FISH.  21 

fish  in  the  immediate  vicinity  takes  possession  of  the 
vacated  post.  These  fish  will  often  fight  desperately  for 
a  favorable  situation,  hence  it  is  that  the  larger  tenants  oc- 
cupy the  best  positions.  Near  circulating  eddies,  behind 
large  stones,  in  side  and  mid-stream,  below  jutting  por- 
tions of  banks,  etc.,  ever  near  the  main  volume  of  water, 
and  the  perpetuated  line  of  bubbles  wherever  it  may 
tend,  the  trout  lie  assiduously  observant  of  passing  ob- 
jects, whether  in  or  on  the  top  of  the  water. 

When  a  quantity  of  flies  are  "up"  in  rapid  water,  the 
fish  poise  themselves  near  the  surface,  the  more  readily 
to  close  upon  their  winged  prey;  but,  upon  the  other 
hand,  when  no  surface  food  is  presented  to  their  view, 
they  are  quick  to  seize  adventurous  fry  of  their  own  or 
any  other  species,  without  distinction.  In  the  latter 
half  of  May  their  attention  is  generally  attracted  and 
absorbed  by  the  then  active  grub  or  pupa  of  the  May- 
fly or  drake;  and  as  these  nymphae  are,  generally  speak- 
ing, numerous  in  the  waters  frequented  by  trout,  the  fish 
are  seldom  found  rising  at  this  particular  period.  In 
about  a  week  or  ten  days  from  the  first  signs  of  activity, 
the  pupae  referred  to  vacate  their  cases  and  rise  to  the 
water's  surface,  when,  after  emerging  from  yet  another 
skin,  they  appear  in  their  sub-imago  state  as  green  drakes. 
The  fish,  not  comprehending  the  change,  continue  to 
feed  upon  the  undeveloped  worm  for  a  few  days,  until 
the  now  profusely  laden  surface  allures  them  from  the 
river's  bed,  and  monopolizes  their  whole  attention  during 
the  stay  of  the  May-fly,  which  usually  continues  from 
seventeen  to  twenty  days.  By  the  time  the  season  of.  the 
drake  terminates,  the  fish  have  so  regaled  themselves 
upon  this  lusty  ephemeral,  that  for  a  week  or  so  they 
find  it  incumbent  upon  them  to  retire  to  the  deep  still 
water,  to  doze  off  the  effect  of  the  excess.  After  this 
they  again  resort  to  thair  accustomed  posts,  which  are 
not  forsaken  until  the   spawning  season  again  comes 


22  THE  SCIENTIFIC   Al^GLER. 

around,  except  when  forced  to  retreat  in  the  face  of  what 
in  Highland  phraseology  is  called  a  heavy  '/spate," 
when,  particularly  in  hilly  districts,  the  water  rises  and 
the  stream  becomes  '^  bank-full,"  to  overflow  in  a  few 
hours.  Then  not  only  is  the  force  of  the  current  too 
strong,  but  the  water  is  generally  too  thick  in  mid-current 
to  admit  of  the  movement  of  the  fish.  In  these  circum- 
stances the  quiet  corners  and  side  eddies,  no  matter  if 
quite  out  of  the  usual  water-course, are  the  resort  not  only 
of  trout,  but  of  all  other  species  that  may  inhabit  the 
water.  The  whole  congregate  in  places  of  comparative 
safety  when  danger  threatens,  the  minnows  with  the 
trout,  the  pike  with  the  gudgeon.  When  trout  reach  a 
more  than  ordinary  size,  they  disdain  surface  food.  At 
twilight,  and  even  later  in  the  hot  months,  however, 
they  will  rise  at  the  large  moths,  but  are  not  to  be  allured 
to  the  surface  by  small  flies.  When  over  two  pounds 
weight,  their  flesh  assumes  a  beautiful  red  tint,  not  unlike 
that  of  a  well-conditioned  salmon,  but  when  they  much 
exceed  that  weight,  they  do  incalculable  harm  to  the 
water  they  inhabit  by  greedily  devouring  the  small  half- 
grown  fish.  Trout  occasionally  attain  a  prodigious  size, 
five  and  six  pounds  being  not  altogether  uncommon. 
But  although  a  trout  may  reach  this  weight,  he  does  not 
long  retain  it,  for  within  a  comparatively  brief  period 
all  the  store  fish  within  a  hundred  yards  of  his  haunt 
will  have  disappeared,  and  the  cannibal  who  has  thus 
depopulated  it  will  diminish  quickly  in  flesh,  showing  a 
gaunt  head  and  rakish-looking  frame  as  the  result  of 
the  scarcity  of  food;  for,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  the 
veteran  trout  seldom  forsakes  his  chosen  haunt,  even  to 
appease  hunger's  keen  pangs.  Fish  of  this  description 
should  be  destroyed.  At  twilight  they  will  frequently 
rise  boldly  at  the  minnow.  At  mid-day  it  is  of  little 
use  angling  for  them,  as  the  tackle  must  then  necessarily 
be  fine  to  get  them  to  face  it;  and  when  this  is  the  case, 


THE   HABITS   AND   HAUi^^TS   OF   FISH.  23 

7.fc  is  unequal  to  the  task  of  holding  them  when  hool^ed. 
In  large  rivers  the  existence  of  hybrids  in  certi^in  of  the 
first  sub-genus  group  of  Salmonidce  is  by  no  means  in- 
frequent, the  non-migratory  fish  interbreeding  with  the 
migratory,  producing  tidal  or  slod  trout,  and  other  varie- 
ties, which  occasionally  attain  considerable  dimensions. 
The  common  trout,  in  certain  waters,  sometimes  attains 
a  large  size,  notably  in  the  Irish  lochs,  those  of  Loch 
Neagh  frequently  scaling  eighteen  to  twenty  pounds. 
Thames  fish  are  occasionally  taken  weighing  in  the  teens 
of  pounds,  but  such  captures  are  few,  and  we  regret  to 
have  to  add,  are  becoming  yearly  more  infrequent,  not- 
withstanding the  instalments  from  High  Wycombe  and 
other  sources.  Kingston,  Shepperton,  and  Chertsey 
were  years  ago  the  best  localities  for  these  fish,  and, 
therefore,  the  chief  resorts  of  the  anglers.  More  re- 
cently, Sunbury,  Weybridge,  Maidenhead,  and  Marlow 
Weir  have  become  the  favorite  places. 

The  Gillaeoo*  Trout  of  Ireland  is  another  large 
variety.  In  their  native  lakes  they  attain  frequently  four 
or  five  pounds  weight,  but  when  introduced  into  other 
waters  they  often  much  exceed  that  weight.  This  variety 
affords  much  excellent  sport  when  hooked,  even  when 
small.  It  is  scarcely  advisable,  however,  to  introduce  this 
large  variety  into  ordinary  trout  streams,  as  the  effects  in 
all  probability  would  be  similar  to  those  following  the 
introduction  of  bass  in  the  American  trout  rivers,  the 
original  stock  gradually  disappearing.!     Large  fish  in- 

*  So-called  from  the  structural  arrangements  of  the  stomach,  which  is 
usually  as  large  as  a  chicken's,  in  formation  resembling  the  gizzard  of 
the  bird  kTiown  as  th3  gillaroo. 

t  In  view  of  the  present  desire  of  many  English  rodsters,  including  the 
editor  of  the  ''Fishing  Gazette,"  to  introduce  the  black  bass  into  the 
streams  of  England,  it  would  be  well  for  them  to  take  heed  of  the  fact 
stated  in  the  text.  This  fish  will  destroy  the  "  coarse  fish,"  particularly 
the  GyprinidcB  of  any  stream  or  lake.  It  kills  from  the  love  of  killing 
and,  pound  for  pound,  is  the  sturdiest  fighter  that  sculls  the  waters. 


24  THE  SCIEKTIFIC   A1S"GLER. 

variably  require  an  enormous  amount  of  food  to  enable 
them  to  grow  and  flourish,  and  should  never  be  intro- 
duced into  water  which  will  not  aSord  the  necessary 
supply. 

Chare  akd  Pollen^ — (Coregonus.)*  Both  these  fish 
are  extremely  local.  The  first  named  are  found  in  large 
lakes,  the  deepest  part  of  which  they  frequent.  Like 
trout,  they  vary  in  different  waters,  chiefly  however  in 
color,  which  is  often  most  brilliant  when  they  have  been 
freshly  taken,  the  fiery  red  breast  being  then  marvellously 
vivid.  The  torgock,  or  Welsh  charr,  is  perhaps  the  most 
conspicuously  colored.  It  is  found  in  Llanberis  and  other 
lakes  in  the  north  of  Wales.  It  is  smaller  than  those  of 
Windermere  and  other  northern  lakes,  its  average  length 
being  thirteen  to  fifteen  inches.  The  charr  is  strictly  a 
northern  fish,  and  flourishes  much  better  in  lakes  fed  by 
underground  springs  at  some  elevation  than  in  shallow 
and  low-lying  waters.  The  lakes  and  lochs  chiefly  noted 
for  these  fish  in  England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland,  are 
Windermere,  Ennerdale,  Buttermere,  Wast- Water,  in  the 
north  of  England;  Lough  Enniskillin,  Lough  Eske, 
Lough  Dan,  Lough  Melvin,  Lough  Killin,  and  Corr  in 
Ireland;  Lochs  Grannoch,  Roy,  and  Awe,  in  Scotland; 
and  Lake  Helier  in  Hoy,  in  the  Orkneys.  From  their 
habit  of  seeking  the  seclusion  of  the  very  deepest  water 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  they  are  seldom  taken 
by  the  sportsman,  although  bold  risers  at  the  fly.  Occa- 
sionally they  are  excessively  shy,  and  are  not  to  be  ap- 
proached within  a  considerable  distance  when  surface 
feeding.  The  contents  of  their  stomachs  when  taken 
generally  consist  of  aquatic  and  aerial  insects,  and  the 

*The  trout  is  now  relegated  to  the  salvelinus  or  cbarr  species  of  the 
salmonoids,  to  which  the  Rangely  Lake  trout,  the  California  mountain 
trout  and  our  common  speckled  brook  trout  belong.  The  charrs,  how- 
ever, differ  greatly  in  coloration  from  the  American  varieties,  but  few 
having  spots,  which,  when  present,  are  of  a  dull  reddish  orange  color. 


THE  HABITS  AIS^D   HAUI?-TS   OF  FISH.  25 

small  fish  known  as  the  stickleback,  which  latter  forms 
their  principal  food.  This  fact  failed  to  attract  our  notice 
until  the  year  1862,  when  we  were  fishing  upon  the  Awe, 
in  Argyleshire,  at  different  periods  during  a  visit  of  four 
months.  We  had  observed  a  succession  of  bubbles  ap- 
pearing upon  the  water's  surface  for  an  instant,  and  hav- 
ing never  succeeded  in  raising  a  fish  in  immediate  prox- 
imity, we  concluded  that  they  were  caused  by  an  escape 
of  gas  or  air  from  the  bottom  of  the  water.  After  a  wJiile 
there  came  a  day  when  the  momentary  bubbles  were  ex- 
ceptionally numerous,  though  they  never  occurred  near 
the  boat.  This  circumstance  did  not  escape  us,  and  we 
put  up  a  cast  of  brown  trout  flies,  in  lieu  of  the  larger 
salmon  fly  we  had  previously  been  using,  and  these  we 
succeeded  in  casting  in  the  midst  of  a  rising  of  bubbles, 
and  this  timo  not  in  vain,  for  the  next  instant  we  not 
only  had  a  rise  but  a  hooked  fish,  which  eventually  proved 
to  be  a  charr  of  the  northern  species,  and  was  found  to 
be  gorged  with  small  sticklebacks.  Subsequent  experience 
proved  that  the  eruption  referred  to  was  simply  a  shoal 
of  these  tiny  fish  clearing  the  water  in  their  frantic  and 
futile  endeavors  to  elude  their  enemies.  The  fish  here 
spoken  of  was  sent  to  the  proprietor,  Colin  Campbell, 
Esq.,  of  Loch  Nell,  as  we  were  informed  that  the  exist- 
ence of  charr  in  the  loch  was  unknown  and  unsuspected. 
We  were  afterwards  assured  by  the  proprietor,  who  wish- 
ed to  know  the  precise  fly  that  had  allured  the  specimen 
forwarded,  that  such  was  the  case.  Since  then,  charr 
have  been  regularly  taken  in  their  proper  season.  Charr 
come  into  shallow  waters  to  spawn  during  the  autumn, 
often  running  into  the  lake  feeders  to  perform  this  oper- 
ation, when  nets  are  illegally  used  for  their  destruction. 
Charr  are  classed  with  trout  under  the  new  Fresh  Water 
Fishery  Acts,  and  the  close  time  is  therefore  the  same. 
The  Pollen-,  or  Powaj^,  are  confined  to  the  Irish  lakes. 
Lough  Neagh  being  especially  noted  for  these  fish;  Lough 
2 


26  THE   SCIEiS^TIFIC   AN^GLEE. 

Erne,  and  Lough  Lomond,  too,  are  stocked  with  them. 
They  feed,  like  the  charr,  upon  the  fly  and  other  aquatic 
insects,  etc.  The  prevailing  color  is  silvery  gray,  the 
head  and  back  being  bluish  brown.  They  spawn  in  De- 
cember and  January,  and  afford  good  sport  during  the 
genial  months  to  the  angler. 

The  GRAYLiiq^G — {Thymallus  vulgaris.)'^ — This  is  a 
much  more  fastidious  and  delicate  fish  than  the  trout; 
and,  although  it  abounds  to  profusion  in  some  streams, 
yet  it  is  very  local  when  compared  with  the  trout.  Both 
Scotland  (including  the  Tweed,  Clyde,  and  the  Orkneys) 
and  Ireland  are  graylingless;  neither  do  they  occur  in 
Wales,  except  in  the  border  streams.  They  require  a 
peculiar  combination  of  favorable  surroundings  to  enable 
them  to  flourish  and  locate  permanently,  when  introduced 
into  strange  streams.  A  moderate  temperature  of  water 
is  requisite  for  their  well-being,  and  a  succession  of  stream 
and  still  deeps.  They  generally  frequent  the  lower  por- 
tions of  trout  streams  in  hilly  districts;  a  fair  volume  of 
water,  too,  is  essential,  as,  when  there  flows  less  than  two 
tons  or  thereabouts  per  minute,  grayling  descend  to  a 
lower  point,  where  their  needs  in  this  respect  are  satisfied. 
The  bottoms  of  our  best  grayling  rivers  usually  consist  of 
an  alternate  mixture  of  loam,  marl,  sand,  and  gravel. 
The  brown  trout,  in  his  habits  of  migration,  penetrates 
still  further  up  stream  to  more  rapid  water.  The  gray- 
ling, on  the  other  hand,  more  generally  descends  to  slower 

*  The  coloration  of  the  English  grayling  consists  of  a  general  tint  of 
light  blue  silvery  gray,  covering  nearly  the  whole  surface  of  the  body, 
excepting  the  belly,  which  is  white,  or  nearly  so,  and  the  scales  often 
exhibit  iridescent  lines  of  great  beauty.  The  back  and  head  are  of  darker 
gray  than  the  rest  of  the  body.  A  few  lines  of  brown  are  intermixed 
with  the  gray  of  the  sides,  ard  afew  black  spots  appear  on  the  shoulder. 
The  back  fin  has  a  purplish  tint,  studded  with  large  black  spots.  The 
tail  is  of  a  slate  color.  The  English  fish  I  judge  to  be  somewhat  stouter 
than  the  American  {Thymallus  tricolor),  and  is  certainly  far  inferior  to  it 
in  beauty  of  coloration. 


THE  HABITS  AI^TD  HAUKTS   OF   FISH.  27 

running  waters;  still,  there  is  little  doubt  that  this  lish 
would  thrive  in  many  waters  in  which  it  is  at  present  un- 
known. Grayling  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  gregarious, 
generally  frequenting  the  stills,  even  when  surface  feed- 
ing. It  is  owing  to  this  fact  that  they  are  given  to  rise 
nearer  the  rodster  than  the  trout,  ascending  often  from 
the  deepest  part  of  the  river  to  seize  a  passing  insect. 
Although,  when  top  food  is  plentiful,  these  fish  rise 
boldly  and  continuously,  they,  especially  when  the  water 
is  slightly  discolored,  are  very  partial  to  the  larvae  of 
water-flies,  wasps,  maggots,  cabbage  grubs,  etc.,  as  they 
are  also  to  any  imitation  of  these. 

Grayling  grow  rapidly  in  comparison  with  other  Sal- 
monidce,  the  young  attaining  several  inches  in  size  in  a 
very  few  months.  They  spawn  usually  in  April  and  May. 
By  October  or  November,  the  fry  are  little  larger  than  a 
minnow,  and  are  then  termed  "pink"  grayling.  The 
summer  following  they  average  four  to  the  pound,  and 
are  then  known  as  "shote"  fish.  About  two  years  from 
the  time  of  hatching  they  attain  about  half  a  pound,  by 
which  time  the  ova  is  matured,  but  not  before.  The  half- 
pound  fish  takes  the  name  of  grayling.  The  fish  is  in 
the  very  zenith  of  health  and  vigor  from  October  to  Jan- 
uary. When  in  perfect  condition  they  are  almost  black 
upon  the  back,  which  contrasts  prettily  with  the  silver- 
gray  and  pure  white  of  the  bosom.  The  pectoral  fin, 
which  is  immensely  large  in  this  variety  of  Salmonidm,  is 
faintly  tipped  with  a  ruddy  hue.  In  reference  to  the 
habits  of  the  grayling  much  diversity  exists  in  current 
literature  bearing  upon  this  subject,  as  the  following  brief 
quotations  will  show: — 

'^Grayling  are  found  in  "I  have  proved  that 
the  North  Sea,  Cattegat,  grayling  will  not  bear  even 
and  Baltic." — Nilsson.  a  brackish   water    without 

dying. " — Davy, 


28 


THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 


*  *  Early  in  spring  gray- 
1  i  n  g  ascend  the  rivers, 
where  they  remain  till 
autumn,  and  then  return 
to  their  former  element." 
— Donavon. 


''He  is  a  fish  that  lurks 
very  close  all  the  winter, 
but  is  very  pleasant  and 
jolly  after  mid- April,  in  the 
hot  months." — Walton. 


**They  delight  in  rivers 
that  glide  through  moun- 
tainous places,  and  are  met 
with  in  the  clearest  and 
swiftest  of  those  streams." 
— Mackintosh. 

*'The  grayling  is  the 
deadest-hearted  fish  in  the 
world." — Cotton. 


*'  The  grayling  passes  its 
time  entirely  in  fresh  water, 
and  I  cannot  understand 
how  Donavon — whose  fig- 
ure, bad  as  it  is,  shows  it- 
self to  be  this  fish — says  it  is 
migratory. " — Haughton. 

''Grayling  are  best  in 
season  in  autumn  and  win- 
ter; indeed,  they  should 
not  be  taken  till  August, 
and  all  caught  before  that 
period  should  be  returned." 
— Francis. 

"  They  cannot  stem  rapid 
streams,  and  are  gradually 
carried  lower  and  lower, 
and  at  last  disappear." — 
81i%idley  and  Fitzgihbon. 


"The  grayling  is  an  ex- 
cellent fish  for  sport." — 
Ronalds. 


The  juxtaposition  of  these  extracts  shows  how  many 
inaccuracies  and  fallacies  are  diffused  by  those  who  pro- 
fess to  be  the  teachers  of  truth. 

The  quotations  to  the  right  are  accurate  in  detail,  as 
grayling  fishers  of  experience  will  concede.  The  annual 
movements  of  these  fish  occur  in  much  the  same  way  as 
those  of  the  trout,  with  the  exception  of  the  one  being 
in  condition  in  the  cold  season  and  the  other  m  the  most 
genial  part  of  the  year.  In  the  spawning  season  (April 
and  May)  they  repair  to  the  broad  shallows,  where  the 


THE  HABITS  A^D  HAUKTS   OP   FISH.  29 

water-course  widens,  and  the  gravelly  bottom  is  plainly 
apparent.  Here  they  lie  in  shoals,  and,  before  the  na- 
tional law  prohibited  the  practice,  sacrilegious  work  was 
often  perpetrated  with  the  net  by  the  poaching  fraternity, 
who,  unfortunately,  are  much  better  acquainted  with  the 
habits  of  their  quarry  then  is  generally  credited.  After 
their  sexual  functions  have  been  in  due  course  accom- 
plished, they  seek  the  best  feeding  positions  vacant,  near 
the  sides  and  at  the  tails  of  sharp  streams,  where  they  lie 
at  the  bottom,  ever  on  the  look-out  for  what  the  stream 
may  bring  down,  such  as  the  larvae  of  the  several  orders 
of  large  water  flies  and  other  aquatic  insects — the  water- 
spider  and  freshwater  shrimps  {Ganmarus  aquaticus). 
The  grayling,  though  a  delicately  organized  fish,  never- 
theless possesses  a  strong  stomach,  superior  to  that  of  the 
trout,  which  enables  it  to  digest  insects  inhabiting  shell- 
like cases,  and  other  molluscous  food.  After  their  health 
has  been  somewhat  restored  by  a  short  location  here,  the 
approach  of  the  hot  months  drives  them  to  the  seclusion 
of  the  deepest  water,  near  the  bottom  of  which  they  lie, 
where  the  heat  is  less  felt.  We  believe  this  to  be  the 
main  secret  as  to  the  suitable  water  and  locality  for  these 
fish,  as  in  these  days  of  artificial  propagation  and  experi- 
mental ventures  in  the  transportation  of  fish,  it  has  been 
often  observed  that  when  the  water  is  not  adapted  for  the 
peculiarities  of  this  fish,  they  have  invariably  descended 
at  the  approach  of  warm  weather,  never  to  re-ascend. 
There  are  many  waters  that  do  not  at  present  contain 
grayling,  that  are  perfectly  adapted  to  their  peculiarities. 
Streams  having  lime  spring  sources  are  found  to  be  par- 
ticularly suited  to  these  delicate  fish.  In  the  Canadian 
lakes  the  trout  lie,  whenever  the  weather  is  oppressive, 
in  masses  near  the  cool  springs,  especially  when  these  are 
situated  at  the  bottom  of  the  water.  Grayling  in  this 
country  are  found  to  flourish  in  similar  situations,  but  in 
more  genial  climes  they  cannot  be  preserved,  being  a 


'60  THE  SCIENTIFIC   A^-GLER. 

northern  fish.  In  early  autumn  they  leave  the  still 
deeps  and  congregate  upon  the  lower  running  streams, 
where  the  water  is  from  three  to  four  feet  deep.  Here, 
in  the  wake  of  piles  eu cumbered  with  sticks,  etc.,  they 
sport  in  company,  and  are  to  be  allured  by  fancy  artifi- 
cials, even  when  there  are  no  flies  on  the  water.  At  this 
period  they  afford  really  excellent  sport  when  fished  for 
by  the  sunk  fly,  as  well  as  by  the  other  methods  of  ang- 
ling for  them,  described  elsewhere.  As  the  year  advances, 
the  vitality  and  vigor  of  the  grayling  increases,  and  by 
the  time  the  sharp  frosts  of  winter  set  in,  whenever  the 
water  is  in  fit  condition,  they  afford  exceptionally  good 
sport.  Grayling  often  attain  a  large  size;  they  are  fre- 
quently taken  from  two  to  four  pounds  in  the  rivers  most 
noted  for  them,  which  are  as  follows:  the  Avon,  Itchen, 
and  Test,  in  Hampshire;  the  Dove,  Wye,  and  Derwent, 
in  the  Midlands;  the  Aire  and  Swale,  m  Yorkshire;  and 
the  Lugg  and  Teme.'  This  fi&h  has  recently  been 
turned  into  the  Clyde  and  Tweed,  where  it  appears  to 
flourish. 

Pike*  frequent  the  more  shallow  portions  of  the  water 
when  they  are  in  quest  of  food,  as  also  for  spawning  pur- 
poses. The  smaller  fish  naturally  throng  to  the  thinner 
waters  for  better  security,  and  the  larger  fish  of  prey  lurk 
in  their  vicinity,  as  the  vicious  dog-fish  do  near  the  her- 
ring shoals,  upon  the  shelving  strand.  Pike  also  love  to 
be  concealed  in  weed  beds,  amongst  the  friendly  shades 
of  water  plants,  from  which  they  pounce  upon  their  un- 
suspecting prey.  In  rivers  and  running  water,  like  trout, 
they  generally  take  up  an  advantageous  position  before  a 
jutting  portion  of  the  river's  bank,  or  in  a  deep  curl  of 
water  at  a  sudden  bend.  These  places  are  favorite  haunts, 
and  are  sure  to  be  tenanted  by  either  large  or  small  fish. 

*  The  pike  {Mox  luciits)  of  England  is  identical  with  the  true  pike  of 
America. 


THE  HABITS  AKD  HAUKTS  OF  FISH.  31 

Both  in  winter  and  summer  the  pike  is  a  solitary  and  un- 
social fish.  They  spawn  in  the  spring,  April  and  May 
being  the  usual  months,  but  the  spawning  period  varies 
with  the  locality  to  a  certain  extent.  As  pairing  time 
approaches  they  repair  to  creeks,  side-ditches,  back- 
waters, etc.,  and  in  the  case  of  lakes  and  ponds  to  the 
seclusion  afforded  by  weed  and  reed  beds.  In  the  fall  of 
the  year  the  wanderers  congregate  in  a  social  sort  of  way, 
in  the  still  and  deepest  parts  of  the  water,  or  in  some 
favorite  nook  which  may  have  been  an  annual  place  of 
assembly  since  it  was  originally  formed.  The  ova  of  the 
pike  hatch  quickly,  thirty- two  or  thirty- three  days  being 
the  period.  Their  fry  are  also  of  rapid  growth.  In  the 
pickerel  op  jack  stage  they  devour  enormous  quantities  of 
food,  if  favorable.  At  a  very  early  stage  their  vicious  pro- 
pensities are  exemplified.  We  once  placed  three  pickerel, 
scaling  from  two  to  three  and  a  half  pounds,  in  a  small 
pond,  in  which  had  been  turned  some  fourscore  store 
fish,  the  majority  being  carp  of  small  size,  the  remainder 
tench  and  perch.  Upon  being  netted  at  the  end  of  the 
year,  there  was  not  a  single  carp  in  the  pond;  two-thirds 
of  the  perch  were  left,  as  were  also  a  few  of  the  tench. 
The  pickerel  had  meanwhile  developed  into  respectable 
pike,  scaling  five  and  three-quarters  to  six  and  one-quarter 
pounds  weight.  Belief  in  the  ancient  doggerel,  anent 
the  natural  propagation  of  pike,  eels,  and  other  fish, 
from  the  pickerel  weed,  chopped-hair,  etc.,  it  is  said  is 
not  as  yet  fully  dispelled  amongst  the  lower  agricul- 
tural orders  in  some  parts  of  Scotland,  and  in  several 
English  counties. 

Walton,  who  invariably  quotes  the  German  naturalist, 
Gesner,  upon  the  natural  history  of  fresh- water  fish,  in- 
stead of  relying  solely  upon  his  own  personal  investiga- 
tions, affirms  his  belief  in  these  and  kindred  superstitions, 
characteristic  of  our  forefathers.     The  same  absurd  non- 


32  THE   SCIENTIFIC  Aiq"GLER. 

sense  is  credited  in  the  ^^  Piscatory  Eulogies,"  wlvero  we 
find  the  following: 

"  Say,  canst  thou  tell  how  worms  of  moisture  breed, 
Or  pike  are  gendered  of  the  piekrel  weed  ? 
How  carp  without  the  parent  seed  renew, 
Or  slimy  ce'ia  are  form'd  of  genial  dew  ?" 

To  indulge  in  day-dreams  about  the  abnormal  instincts 
and  habits  of  animalia,  would  appear  to  be  characteristic 
of  the  speculative  naturalist  of  past  ages,  vague  theories 
being  treated  as  solid  facts,  and  so  set  forth  for  the  ac- 
ceptance of  credulous  readers. 


,  CHAPTER  11. 

THE  HABITS  AND  HAUNTS  OF  FISH 

THE  BARBEL,  CARP,  TENCH,  BREAM,  ROACH,  DACE,  GUDGEON, 
CHUB,  EEL,  POPE  OR  RUFFE, 

The  Barbel*  {Barhus  vulgaris)  is  a  gregarious  fish. 
It  spawns  in  May  and  the  beginning  of  June,  and  is 
found  in  the  sluggish  parts  of  slow-running  streams.  It 
not  unfrequently  attains  a  weight  of  ten  or  twelve  pounds, 
and  specimens  are  occasionally  taken  measuring  three 
feet  in  length.  Its  fins,  especially  the  pectoral,  are  ex- 
ceptionally large,  and  by  their  aid  it  can  breast  the 
most  powerful  currents,  and  is,  moreover,  capable  of  af- 
fording good  sport  to  the  angler;  owing  to  its  excessive 
pertinacity  of  life  and  strength.  The  Thames  and  Trent 
are  the  best  rivers  for  this  fish.  It  is  rather  local  in  this 
country,  but  is  occasionally  found  abundant  in  the  waters 
of  low-lying  counties.  Large  barbel  are  most  prevalent 
about  Shepperton,  Walton,  and  Weybridge  upon  the 
Thames,  where  they  have  been  taken  scaling  fifteen  or 

*  The  barbel  is  not  a  native  of  our  waters. 


THE  HABITS  AKD  HAUKTS  OF  FISH.  33 

sixteen  pounds  or  more.  They  abound  in  tlie  Trent  for 
many  miles  about  and  below  Nottingham.  During  the 
hot  months,  after  spawning  (which  operation  is  effected 
amongst  weeds,  roots,  etc.,  around  which  substances  they 
entwine  the  ova  in  a  rope-like  form)  they  seek  deep  slow- 
running  streams,  near  the  bottom  of  which  they  lie.  A 
cold  climate  does  not  appear  to  suit  the  barbel.  In  more 
southern  latitudes,  as  in  the  Danube  and  the  Khine,  it  is 
said  to  occasionally  reach  fifty  or  even  sixty  pounds.  In 
Scotland  this  fish  does  not  appear  at  all.  With  the  ad- 
vent of  frosty  weather  in  the  fall,  they  leave  the  still 
deeps  and  holes,  and  may  be  found  at  the  bends  of  rivers, 
near  bridges,  flood-gates,  locks,  and  weirs,  which  form 
their  haunts  during  the  winter  season.  Here  they  are 
often  taken,  in  favorable  circumstances,  in  heavy  quanti- 
ties by  practical  adepts.  The  mouth  of  the  barbel  is 
situate  much  lower  than  is  the  case  with  most  fish.  It  is 
a  flat- stomached  fish,  with  a  hog-shaped  head  and  snout. 
The  fore-barbs,  or  wattles,  attached  to  the  end  of  the  lat- 
ter, and  appended  to  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  are  plen- 
tifully encompassed  by  nerves,  which  serve  as  feelers  to 
the  fish  whilst  foraging  amongst  gravel,  etc.,  in  the  bed 
of  the  water.  It  belongs  to  the  carp  fsunily,  and  is  noted 
for  its  subtlety  and  wiliness.  Barbel  are  in  the  best  con- 
dition in  August  and  September. 

Carp  {Ciprinus  carpio)*  do  not  thrive  in  northern 
latitudes;  like  the  barbel,  they  attain  much  greater  di- 
mensions in  temperate  and  southern  climes.  It  is  sup- 
posed by  some  that  the  whole  carp  family  are  not  indige- 
nous to  this  country,  which  may  be  very  probable;  but 
nothing  is  certainly  known  of  the  period  or  source  of 
their  original  introduction.  The  naturalist  Linnaeus 
affirms  that  carp  were  first  brought  to  England  about  the 
year  1600,  but  this  assuredly  is  erroneous,  as  in  Dame 

*  This  variety  or  scaled  species  has  been  introduced  in  our  waters. 


34  THE   SCIElfTIFIC  ANGLER. 

Juliana  Berner's  book  on  angling,  published  in  1496,  we 
have  the  following  mention  of  the  carp:  *^It  is  a  dayn- 
tious  fysshe,  but  there  bene  but  faue  in  Englond,  and 
thereforce  I  wryte  the  lesse  of  hym." 

The  carp  is  a  vegetarian,  feeding  upon  the  more  tender 
parts  of  aquatic  plants,  and  the  growth  of  algas  and  fun- 
gus with  which  aquatic  vegetation  is  often  overspread. 
Insects  and  larv86  also  are  taken  by  them.  Where  carp 
run  large  they  are  anything  but  '^dayntious,"  as  any 
vegetable  garbage  and  refuse  will  be  eagerly  and  voraci- 
ously devoured  by  them  when  cast  within  their  reach. 

In  the  winter  season  carp  lie  partially  buried  in  the 
mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  lakes  and  ponds  in  which  they 
delight.  Their  ova  becomes  matured  about  June;  they 
deposit  their  spawn  upon  weeds,  etc.  These  fish  have 
the  curious  habit  of  emitting  but  a  small  part  of  their 
eggs  at  once;  thus  they  are  taken  for  some  months  con- 
taining more  or  less  mature  spawn,  the  male  fish  having 
a  similar  characteristic.  The  carp,  like  most  leather- 
mouthed  fish,  have  teeth  in  the  throat — these,  in  the  in- 
stance of  the  common  carp  very  much  resemble  the  molar 
teeth  of  a  quadruped.  They  are  very  long-lived,  and 
many  remarkable  instances  of  this  are  recorded.  There 
are  many  varieties  of  these  fish  now  common  in  this 
country.  The  Crucian  and  Prussian  variety  are  abun- 
dant in  many  waters.  These  are  much  shorter  and  more 
plate-like  in  form  than  the  ordmary  carp. 

Tench*  [Tinea  vulgaris),  like  carp,  flourish  best  in 
weedy  ponds  or  deep  pits,  and  though  in  very  sluggish 
rivers  they  may  take  up  their  quarters  upon  some  quiet 
reach,  they  are  seldom  found  abundant  in  these  situa- 
tions. In  the  winter  months  these  fish  lie  dormant  in 
the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  water,  as  we  have  already 

*  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  we  have  no  fish  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic 
corresponding  to  the  tench,  of  which  in  fact  but  one  species  is  known 
to  exist. 


THE   HA.BITS  AND  HAUNTS  OF  FISH.  35 

stated  to  be  the  ease  with  the  carp;  indeed,  their  main 
habits  and  instincts  correspond  closely  with  those  just 
ascribed  to  the  carp.  The  chief  points  of  distinction  are 
that  the  tench  possesses  greater  powers  of  suction,  is  con- 
siderably less  in  size  (seldom  attaining  more  than  six  or 
seven  pounds  in  our  home  waters),  and  is  inferior  in  cun- 
ning. The  body  of  the  tench  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  mucous,  which  is  generally  supposed  to  have  medic- 
inal properties.  This  would  be  difficult  to  prove,  and 
we  very  much  doubt  whether  it  ever  has  been  satisfac- 
torily established.  Both  carp  and  tench  are  eminently 
tenacious  of  life,  and  able  to  breathe  with  the  most 
meagre  supply  of  oxygen.  The  young  of  both  fish  are 
also  of  marvellously  quick  growth,  where  food  is  plenti- 
ful, and  the  surroundings  are  favorable  to  their  well- 
being.  The  golden  variety  of  tench,  now  acclimatized 
here,  is  being  artificially  bred  and  distributed  upon  an 
extensive  scale. 

Bream*  {Ahramis  hrama)  abound  to  profusion  in  many 
of  our  lakes,  rivers,  and  canals,  as  also  in  small  confined 
sheets  of  water  throughout  the  land.  There  are  two 
principal  British  varieties  of  these  fish,  viz.,  the  common 
or  carp  bream,  and  the  white  bream,  or  breamflat.  There 
are  numerous  hybrids  among  bream,  as,  indeed,  is  the 
case  with  the  whole  carp  tribe.  These  are  occasionally 
taken  for  new  varieties,  and  new  species.  In  early  morn- 
ing, with  the  first  gleam  of  the  sun  in  the  east,  the 


*  The  reader  must  not  confound  the  English  bream  with  our  sunfish, 
which  is  called  in  many  sections  of  the  United  States,  a  bream.  The 
bream  of  the  text  belongs  to  the  carp  family,  and  the  sunfish  to  the 
perehes.  We  have  two  well  recognized  varieties  (both  carps)  of  the 
bream  in  this  country  ;  the  Notemigonus  chnjsoleuc^is^  commonly  called 
shiner,  the  habitat  of  which  is  from  New  England  to  Mmnesota ;  the  N. 
Americanus,  or  Southern  bream,  ranging  from  Virginia  to  Georgia.  Both 
of  these  fish  are  similar  in  their  habits  to  the  English  varieties,  loving 
weedy  streams  and  ponds.  The  former,  N.  chnjsolejicus,  resembles  a 
shad  and  grows  to  a  weight  of  a  pound  and  a  half.  The  saltwater  por- 
gee  is  sometimes  called  a  bream  in  the  Southern  States. 


36  THE   SCIEKTIFIC  AKGLER. 

bream,  in  common  with  most  fish  of  like  order,  are  to 
be  observed  playfully  gambolling  and  turning  over,  so 
that  their  most  frequent  haunts  are  easily  discernible 
to  the  early  riser.  When  a  bream  suddenly  descends 
from  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  unlike  any  other 
fish,  it  causes  bubbles  to  appear  upon  the  water  im- 
mediately above  it.  This  must  be  owing  to  its  peculiar 
formation.  It  probably  emits  a  certain  portion  of  oxygen 
by  the  exertion.  The  teeth  of  the  bream,  as  with  other 
aquatic  vegetarians,  are  in  the  throat,  there  being,  in 
the  case  of  the  common  bream,  a  series  of  five  upon 
each  bone,  a  double  complement  of  these  being  possessed 
by  the  white  variety.  Bream  spawn  in  July.  They 
always  frequent  the  deepest  parts  of  the  water  they  in- 
habit, and  are  fond  of  weedy  quarters.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  October  they  are  in  the  hight  of  condition.  It 
is  not  in  every  likely-looking  place  upon  a  river  known 
to  contain  bream  that  they  are  found.  They  are  rather 
migratory  as  well  as  gregarious,  and  are  given  to  roam, 
changing  their  haunts,  for  no  apparent  reason,  for  an 
indefinite  period.  These  fish  seldom  attain  more  than 
six  or  seven  pounds  Aveight,  though  specimens  are  oc- 
casionally taken  scaling  considerably  more. 

Roach*  [Leuciscus  rutilus),  are  also  gregarious,  con- 
gregating and  swimming  toe:ether  in  shoals.  They  are 
generally  numerous  at  the  lower  portions  of  trout  streams, 
in  water  from  three  to  five  feet  in  depth,  and  of  very 
moderate  velocity.  They  feed  upon  aquatic  insects, 
worms,  the  larvae  of  flies,  and  also  on  certain  vegetable 


*  The  names,  Roach,  Dace,  and  Chub  are  inextricably  mixed  in  the 
popular  nomenclature  of  fishes  in  this  country.  All  of  them  are  applied 
indiscriminately  to  one  and  the  same  fish.  I  am  enabled,  however,  to 
state  from  personal  knowledge  that  the  roach  of  the  Atlantic  States  is 
almost  a  counterpart  of  its  Enjrlish  congener,  in  physical  outline,  at 
least  so  far  as  may  be  judged  by  examinations  of  several  exquisite  and 
accurate  drawings  of  the  latter  fish. 


THE  HABITS  AND   HAUKTS   OF  FISH.  37 

matter.  These  fish  spawn  in  May  and  the  early  part  of  June. 
When  thus  ill-conditioned  they  are  particularly  rough  to 
the  touch.  Their  ova  is  deposited  amongst  the  roots  of 
weeds  or  upon  some  projecting  or  submerged  substance 
there  may  be  in  the  bottom  of  the  water.  The  length 
of  a  full-sized,  well-conditioned  roach  ranges  from  ten 
to  twelve  inches;  but,  being  a  broad  and  thick-set  fish, 
the  weight  is  greater  than  its  length  would  indicate. 
Upon  some  waters,  a  fish  of  this  description,  measuring 
ten  inches,  will  generally  scale  about  three-quarters  of  a 
pound.  They  are  of  marvellously  slow  growth,  as  com- 
pared with  other  fish  of  the  same  order.  The  roach  is 
not  esteemed  as  an  article  of  diet. 

Dace,  Dare,  or  Dart.* — These  fish  are  gregarious, 
and  are  common  in  our  clear  streams,  especially  in  the 
south.  They  frequent  slow  running  waters,  where  they 
feed  upon  the  larvae  of  insects,  worms,  etc.,  and  towards 
September  rise  well  at  the  fly,  and  are  to  be  readily  taken. 
There  are  other  species  of  what  are  designated  coarse  fish 
that  rise  at  the  fly,  such  as  the  perch,  chub,  and  pike, 
but  these  are  not  nearly  so  partial  to  surface  feeding  as 
dace.  Though  these  fish  generally  prefer  clear  water, 
they  are  found  plentiful  in  the  polluted  portions  of  large 
rivers.  Their  spawning  time  is  April  and  May.  Dace 
will  flourish  wherever  trout  abound,  which  fish  they  re- 
semble in  their  general  habits.  They  seldom  reach  more 
than  fourteen  ounces  in  weight.  Though  common  to 
running  waters,  they  will  flourish  in  still  pools  and  ponds. 
The  same  observation  may  be  applied  with  equal  truth 
to  the 

*  The  daces  proper  of  our  waters  are  of  small  size  and  are  used  mainly 
for  bait.  The  names  chub,  fallfish,  roach  and  dace  are  often  applied  to 
one  and  the  same  fish,  and  this  custom  is  apt  to  xnislead  the  American 
reader  of  the  text.  The  dace  is  a  favorite  fish  with  +he  British  anglers 
as  they  take  the  fly  during  the  fall  months  and  in  December  and 
January. 


38  THE  SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

Gudgeon.* — These  little  fish,  in  common  with  min- 
nows and  other  small  fry,  frequent  main  rivers  and 
tributaries  alike  in  incredible  numbers,  migrating  in 
shoals.  They  are  extremely  prolific.  Their  chief  use  to 
the  angler  is  for  bait  for  the  larger  species  of  fish. 

CnuBf  (Leuciscus  cephalus). — Chub  frequent  deep  and 
rapid  waters.  They  rank  among  the  very  coarsest  of 
fresh-water  fish;  nevertheless,  they  are  not  to  be  found 
in  stagnant,  foul,  or  habitually  discolored  water;  indeed, 
it  is  rarely  they  flourish  except  where  they  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  a  constant  supply  of  food,  as  is  the  case  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  rapid  passage  of  a  volume  of  water.  In 
lakes,  ponds,  or  canals,  these  fish  are  rarely  found.  Their 
"holts"  in  small  rivers  are  usually  deep  still  pools,  those 
sheltered  by  overhanging  trees  or  bushes  being  their 
chosen  resort,  especially  when  the  stream  is  powerful  just 

*  The  only  counterpart  we  have,  from  an  angling  standpoint,  of  this 
little  fish,  on  the  natural  history  and  capture  of  which  pages  have  been 
•written  by  English  angling  authors,  is  the  gudgeon  of  the  waters  of 
Baltimore ;  when  in  season  many  dozens  are  caught  on  a  tide  with  a 
light  rod  and  running  tackle.  The  fish  of  the  text  belongs  to  the 
carp  family  and  delights  in  running  streams,  while  those  of  the  United 
States  are  caught  in  deep  tidal  waters  and  are  apparently  anadromous. 

t  The  nearest  approach  we  have  in  the  United  States  to  the  chub 
of  England  is  the  Semitolus  corporalis,  commonly  called  chub  in  this 
country.  This  tish  does  not  differ  in  habits,  mode  of  feeding,  etc., 
from  that  one  described  by  the  author.  I  have  found  it,  in  email 
streams,  to  be  extremely  shy  and  to  insure  success  have  been  com- 
pelled to  creep  stealthily  to  the  bank  and  to  avoid  casting  a  shadow 
over  the  water.  When  hooked  it  will  give  deliglitful  play,  often  leaping 
once  or  twice  out  of  the  water,  but  its  resistance  is  of  short  duration. 
.They  are  struck  mostly  in  the  riffles  where  they  take  the  fly  somewhat 
fiercely,  the  reverse  occurring  in  the  quiet  pool,  their  action  tlien  being 
somewhat  sluggish.  I  have  caught  them  weighing  two  pounds,  but 
they  reach  nearly  double  that  size  when  their  habitat  is  the  deep 
stretches  of  water  above  the  dams  of  the  upper  rivers  of  the  Northern 
States.  It  is  this  fish  and  its  congeners  that  are  rapidly  disappearing 
in  the  States  east  of  the  Alleghenies  under  the  onslaught  of  the  ferocious 
black  bass. 


THE   HABITS   AKD   HAUKTS   OF   FISH.  39 

near  the  head  of  the  pool.  In  larger  and  wider  ones  the 
fish  lie  in  the  streams  when  gently  flowing,  and  near  the 
shelving  or  well-wooded  bank.  Sandy  or  gravelly  bottoms 
are  preferred  by  the  chub.  They  are  seldom  or  never 
found  where  the  bed  of  the  water  is  of  mud  or  loam;  they, 
like  the  grayling,  find  food  in  the  gravel  and  sandy  bed. 
They  feed,  as  is  the  case  with  the  whole  cyprinus  family, 
upon  aquatic  plants,  and  have,  in  common  Avith  their 
order,  fully  developed  throat  teeth.  Their  food  also  con- 
sists of  w^orms,  flies,  beetles,  grubs,  and,  indeed,  every- 
thing that  in  general  forms  food  for  their  more  aristo- 
cratic fellow- tenants  of  the  stream;  and  they  are  to  be 
taken  with  almost  every  conceivable  bait,  from  a  minnow 
to  a  midge.  Their  edible  qualities  are  bad,  but  when 
rubbed  with  saltpetre  immediately  after  being  killed  and 
cleansed,  they  form  tolerable  fare. 

Eels. — There  are  two  distinct  varieties  of  these  fish 
that  are  indigenous  to  this  country,  viz : — the  sharp-nosed 
species  {Anguilla  vulgaris)  which,  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, IS  migratory  in  its  habits,  and  the  broad-nosed. 
The  former  annually  descend  to  the  mouths  of  the  rivers 
they  inhabit  to  find  brackish  water.  This  excursion  is 
made  in  the  autumn,  the  main  object  being  to  find  water 
of  the  right  temperature  for  vivifying  their  ova,  as,  unlike 
all  other  species  of  fresh- water  fish,  they  would  appear  to 
require  a  higher  rate  of  temperature  for  this  purpose.  It 
is  well-known  that  the  water  in  the  tidal  part  of  rivers  is 
several  degrees  higher  in  temperature  than  that  nearer 
the  source,  owing,  first,  to  the  greater  elevation  of  the 
sources;  and,  secondly,  to  the  contact  of  two  fluids  of 
different  densities,  as  salt  and  fresh  water,  which  causes 
an  increase  of  temperature  of  at  least  two  degrees.  Tlie 
passage  of  the  adult  fish,  during  or  immediately  after  a 
flood  down-stream  m  the  autumn,  is  well-known  to  the 
owners  of  fisheries  upon  our  large  rivers,  who  place  traps 
for  their  capture.     The  immense  numbers  that  inhabit 


40  THE  SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

some  waters  is  simply  incredible.  But  if  the  downward 
passage  of  eels  is  remarkable,  it  shrinks  into  insignificance 
when  compared  with  the  spring  ascents.  Many  accounts 
of  th3  marvellous  number  of  young  elvers  that  pass  up 
stream  in  the  spring  months,  have  been  given  by  various 
writers  upon  this  and  kindred  subjects. 

The  broad-nosed  species  do  not  ascend  the  rivers,  but 
locate  in  holes  and  crevices  in  masses  of  stone.  In  tlie 
winter  they  lie  dormant  in  the  mud.  This  variety  is  not 
esteemed  as  an  article  of  diet.  The  young  of  the  eel  are 
eagerly  devoured  by  all  fresh-water  fish,  including  the 
trout  and  salmon,  and  even  the  adult  eels  themselves, 
hence  it  is  that  so  few  live  to  become  developed.  Eels 
are  vicious  devourersof  fish  spawn,  and  were  they  to  mul- 
tiply to  any  great  extent,  the  effect  upon  the  higher  order 
of  fish  would  be  disastrous.  Eels  were  long  considered 
viviparous,  but  this  is  now  known  to  be  erroneous. 

The  spawn  of  the  migratory  or  sharp-nosed  variety  is 
usually  deposited  and  buried  in  sand  beds,  that  of  the 
non-migratory  species  is  deposited  in  the  mud  gradually, 
during  a  considerable  length  of  time,  which  accounts  for 
the  intermittent  passage  of  the  young  elvers  or  fry  for 
months  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  Whenever  there  has 
been  incessant  heavy  rain,  eels  turn  out  of  their  hiding 
places  to  feed  upon  worms,  the  larvae  of  insects,  encrustia, 
etc. ,  and  in  the  case  of  the  larger  specimens  upon  small 
fish.  Mild  winters  are  favorable  for  their  capture,  as  in 
the  flushed  waters  that  are  then  usual,  they  are  always 
on  the  forage  for  food.  Poachers  often  t^ke  the  best  of 
these  fish  upon  their  night-lines,  as  eels  are  undeniably 
nocturnal  in  disposition. 

The  Perch*  {Perca  fiuviatilis)  flourishes  in  both  stag- 

*  The  perch  of  English  waters  is  the  yellow  perch  of  America  (JRsrca 
Americana).  The  white  \a,rieiy{MoroneAmericana),  esteemed  by  us  as  a 
table  and  semi-game  fish,  is  not  named  by  the  angling  writers  of  Eng- 
land. 


Plate  L 


FIG.l 


Flfi.4 


f\6.S 


FiG^e 


FlG-2 


FIG. 7 


FIG.  e 


FIG. 10 


(^il) 


THE   HABITS  AND   HAUKTS   OF  FISH.  43 

nant  and  running  water.  In  the  former  they  are  more 
commonly  numerous ;  the  river  perch  are,  however, 
larger,  and  far  more  wily.  The  perch  are  to  an  extent  a 
gregarious  fish,  moving  in  shoals.  Deej)  holes  and  the 
slower  reaches  of  large  rivers  are  their  chosen  resorts. 
They  are  extremely  hardy,  flourishing  in  the  foul  water 
of  road-side  pits,  etc.  They  spawn  in  April  and  May. 
They  are  extremely  prolific,  the  number  of  eggs  carried 
by  an  adult  fish  being  over  200,000.  The  spawn  is  de- 
posited in  an  unbroken  band  or  festoon  of  eggs,  which 
is  generally  entwined  around  weed  stems,  etc.  Moles, 
ducks,  water-fowl,  and  vermin  eagerly  devour  it. 

Perch  are  of  slow  growth,  considering  the  fact  of  their 
being  such  voracious  feeders.  In  confined  places,  where 
the  water  is  overstocked,  they  gradually  diminish  in  size, 
until  they  range  to  almost  the  size  of  a  minnow.  To  keep 
a  stock  of  good  perch  in  a  confined  water,  they  should  be 
netted  every  alternate  season,  the  larger  only  of  the  fish 
being  returned;  the  smaller  may  be  distributed  elsewhere 
as  store  fish.  Yearling  perch  average  two  and  a  half 
inches  in  length  when  fed  plentifully.  In  fayorable  cir- 
cumstances perch  acquire  an  unusual  weight,  five  or  six 
pounds  being  sometimes  reached  by  them  when  the  supply 
of  food  has  been  good,  and  the  surroundings  favorable. 
The  remaining  member  of  the  Percidce  species  is  the 

Pope  or  Ruffe*  (Rough). — This  fish  is  extremely 
partial  to  canals  and  muddy  pools.  The  more  sluggish 
running  waters  often  contain  vast  quantities  of  them. 
It  is  infeiior  to  the  perch,  both  as  regards  size  and  the 
quality  of  its  flesh.  It  is  an  equally  voracious  feeder,  and 
affords  good  sport  to  the  youthful  fisherman  where  it 


t  This  fish  is  not  known  to  our  native  anglers.  It  differs  from  our 
white  perch  mainly  in  being  of  a  darker  color,  approaching  brown,  on 
the  sides  and  back,  and  having  a  continuous  dorsal  fin  instead  of  two, 
the  latter  being  a  distinguishing  mark  of  our  perches. 


44  THE  SCIENTIFIC   Al^^GLER. 

abounds,  it  being  readily  taken  with  the  coarsest  tackle. 
Ruffe  spawn  in  April,  and,  like  perch,  multiply  rapidly. 
Pike  and  other  large  fish  feed  upon  them.  Both  the  form 
and  the  hahits  of  this  fish  are  similar  to  those  of  the 
perch.  Its  average  length  is  four  inches,  and  it  yery 
seldom  exceeds  six.  For  live  bait  for  pike  it  is  often  in 
great  request,  on  account  of  its  hardiness  and  attractive 
color. 


CHAPTER  III. 


BOTTOM  FISHING  (GENERAL). 

POND-FISHING  FOR  PERCH,  ETC.,    GUDGEON,    DACE,     AND    ROACH 
FISHING. 

Under  this  heading  we  purpose  dealing  with  each  indi- 
vidual fish  sought  after  by  the  bottom  fisher.  The  con- 
stant increase  in  this  class  of  anglers  has  of  late  become 
so  noteworthy  that  any  work  on  modern  methods  of 
angling  would  be  signally  incomplete  were  this  important 
branch  ignored.  Still-water  or  pond  fishing  is  associated 
with  the  earliest  recollections  of  the  majority  of  fisher- 
men, whether  fly,  mid-water,  or  bottom  fishers.  We 
shall,  therefore,  commence  with  this  simple  phase  of  the 
gentle  art.  Worm  fishing  may  be  practised  successfully 
for  almost  every  variety  of  fish  in  fresh  water,  not  ex- 
cluding even  the  trout  and  salmon.  We  have  devoted  a 
separate  chapter  to  worm  fishing  for  the  first-named, 
The  usual  objects  of  the  bottom  fisher  in  still  water  are 
what  are  known  as  coarse  fish,  ranging  from  the  pike 
down  to  the  perch  and  gudgeon,  and  the  arrangement  of 
the  tackle  employed  varies  both  according  to  the  kind  of 
fish  it  is  desired  to  take,  and  the  lay  of  the  water.     Float 


BOTTOM  PISHING.  46 

fishing  is  the  chief  resort  of  the  bottom  fisher  in  standing 
water.  Almost  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  rod  will  answer 
for  this  purpose,  the  only  essential  being  stiffness  and 
strength.  Bamboo  is  the  best  material  for  a  general  bot- 
tom rod,  a  variety  of  top  joints  of  different  strength  and 
length  adapting  it  for  both  heavy  and  light  work.  Be- 
fore taking  the  fish  in  detail  we  would  enjoin  the  atten- 
tion of  the  tyro  to  the  following  hints  :* — 

Don't  unduly  expose  either  the  person  or  the  rod  by 
restless  movements  upon  the  edge  of  the  water. 

Avoid  disturbing  as  much  as  is  possible  the  surface  of 
the  fish's  element  by  incessant  movements  of  the  float 
and  bait. 

Never  employ  a  larger  float,  and  therefore  more  sink- 
ers, than  is  absolutely  requisite. 

Always  ascertain  the  precise  depth  of  the  water  it  is 
intended  to  fish  before  commencing,  so  that  the  bait  may 
come  within  the  ken  of  the  fish. 

See  that  the  lure  is  placed  upon  the  hook  in  as  natural 
a  manner  as  is  possible,  viz.,  by  threading  the  worm,  if  a 
worm  is  used,  up  the  centre,  leaving  a  portion  of  each 
extremity  free. 

When  a  fish  is  hooked,  do  not  suddenly,  as  Homer  has 
it,  **  lift  it  quivering  to  the  skies."  There  is  no  need  for 
transporting  your  ''finny  prize"  in  a  strictly  perpen- 
dicular direction.  The  thing  to  do  is  gently  tug  the 
quarry  to  the  bank  before  leaving  the  water,  as  by  so  do- 
ing the  pulling  power,  without  the  addition  of  the  weight 
of  the  capture,  is  placed  upon  the  tackle.  To  work  out 
the  diagram  given,  we  commence  with 

Perch  riSHi:N-G.— The  first  consideration  for  the 
youthful  aspirant,  after  fixing  upon  a  likely  spot,  where 


*  We  commend  these  practical  rules  to  all  anglers,  young  or  old,  who 
delight  in  bottom  fishing.  Many  of  them  are  apt  to  fish  "loose "In 
deep  waters. 


46  THE  SCIENTIFIC   AlfGLER. 

the  water  is  most  discolored*  (which  is  generally  in  the 
yicinity  of  weeds),  is  the  depth.  This  may  be  easily  as- 
certained by  plumbing,  by  means  of  a  scrap  of  sheet  lead 
or  wire,  rolled  round  the  hook,  or  without  this  by  ob- 
serving the  float  when  properly  weighted,  as  in  standing 
water  it  lies  on  one  side  when  the  sinkers  touch  the  bot- 
tom. After  thus  accurately  taking  the  depth,  the  tackle 
should  be  so  arranged  as  to  admit  of  the  lure  reaching 
within  three  inches  or  so  of  the  bottom.  A  few  pieces  of 
turf,  containing  worms,  may  be  put  in  the  water  before 
**  rigging  up  "  the  tackle,  f  The  vigorous  action  of  these, 
on  being  suddenly  introduced  into  a  strange  element, 
answers  admirably  in  attracting  the  notice  of  and  collect- 
ing the  fish.  A  small,  well-scoured  dew  or  lob  worm 
should  then  be  carefully  threaded  upon  the  hook.  The 
float  should  be  cork,  not  colored.  The  brilliantly  daubed 
article  usually  offered  for  sale  ought  always  to  be  assidu- 
ously avoided.  A  common  bottle  cork  is  not  to  be  sur- 
passed, and,  if  the  quill  that  pierces  the  cork  be  vermil- 
ion-tipped, so  much  the  better.  By  the  use  of  a  small 
forked  stick  the  rod  may  be  suspended  upon  the  bank, 
whilst  the  owner  looks  out  and  prepares  a  new  place,  in 
case  a  change  may  become  desirable,  or  two  rods  may  be 
used.  When  fish  run  large,  for  better  security,  a  pot- 
hook shaped  iron  inserted  in  the  ground  at  the  full  ex- 
tremity of  the  rod  will  render  all  safe.  Large  hooks  should 
be  used,  as  by  such  voracious  and  bold  biters  as  perch  an 
ordinary  worm  hook  for  trout  fishing  will  be  paunched 
without  difficulty. 

In  rivers,  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  perch  are 
generally  found  in  gently-flowing  water,  not  very  deep. 

*  Clearwater  is  best  for  perch  fishing  in  our  waters.  When  it  is  riled, 
the  fish  cease  to  go  in  shoals  and  are  caught,  only  here  and  there,  gener- 
ally a  single  fish  at  a  time. 

t  Ground  baiting  is  not  followed  to  any  degree  by  American  anglers. 
Its  value  cannot  be  disputed,  particularly  in  black  bass  waters. 


BOTTOM  FISHIl^G.  47 

As  the  season  advances,  they  locate  under  hollow  banks 
and  by  whirling  eddies,  or  smooth,  gravelly-bottomed 
swims,  but  towards  September  and  October  they  frequent 
the  deepest  parts  of  the  river,  near  roots,  sunken  sticks, 
or  in  other  fastnesses.  Perch  are  gregarious;  care  should, 
therefore,  be  taken  not  suddenly  to  disturb  a  hole  or  swim. 
They  will  run  eagerly  at  the  minnow,  especially  in  the 
summer  months,  but  the  method  by  which  most  sport 
may  be  derived  from  them  is  to  cast  for  them  with  a  trio 
of  artificial  red  palmers  or  caterpillars  (double-hooked), 
attached  to  a  moderately  strong  fly  cast,  one  at  the  point 
and  the  others  mounted  upon  gut  lengths,  and  attached 
as  droppers.  These  are  used  as  small  flies,  just  as  when 
working  them  for  trout,  with  this  exception — when  a  fish 
is  hooked  no  action  is  taken  whatever.  The  hooked  fish 
will  quickly  be  shown,  and  will  work  the  remaining 
palmers  infinitely  better  than  the  rodster  can,  and,  in- 
credible as  it  may  seem,  by  this  means  each  lure  will  have 
secured  its  capture  in  a  very  short  time  after  the  first  was 
hooked.  The  difficulty  of  landing  these  contributions 
adds  in  no  small  degree  to  the  diversion.*  It  sometimes 
happens  when  the  casts  are  full  fine,  or  the  fish  extra 
large,  that  a  loss  of  a  portion  of  the  gut,  together  with  its 
appendage,  is  experienced ;  but  this  is  an  unusual  occur- 
rence, more  particularly  if  sound  and  strong  casts  be  used. 
The  best  way  to  land  a  string  of  perch  is  to  secure  the 
endmost  one  in  the  net  first,  and  when  this  is  done  the 
rest  seldom  get  into  mischief,  and  are  generally  easily 
landed.  There  are  numerous  methods  of  extracting  perch, 
and  if  it  be  true  that  the  amount  of  diversion  derived 
from  sport  is  in  proportion  to  the  novelty  introduced, 
perch  fishing  presents  important  attractions.     The  arti- 

*  When  black  bass  do  not  ran  over  a  pound  or  two  in  weight,  I  invari- 
ably use  the  method  of  the  text ;  especially  if  the  first  fish  chances  to  be 
hooked  on  the  "  hand  "  fly ;  the  "  end  "  fly  in  this  case  plays  beautifully 
and,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  a  second  bass  will  strike  it. 


48  THE  SOIENTIFTC  ANGLER. 

ficial  spinning  bait  and  spoon,  the  roving  live  bait,  the 
fly,*  both  artificial  and  natural,  maybe  successfully  used. 
The  more  advanced  methods  of  bottom  fishing  may  also 
be  resorted  to  in  the  case  of  the  perch;  indeed,  this  is  a 
matter  of  necessity  in  river  fishing,  where  the  large  fish 
exhibit  a  degree  of  wariness  akin  to  that  of  the  acute 
carp.  Whipping  with  the  cad-bait,  fresh-water  shrimp, 
and  other  aquatic  insects  in  nymphae  form  also  affords 
capital  sport,  even  in  clear  water,  under  the  overhanging 
banks,  trees,  or  bushes,  amongst  well-educated  shoals  of 
these  fish. 

The  Gudgeon  {Genus  Gohia)  are  very  prevalent  in 
slowly-running  waters,  those  having  gravelly  or  sandy 
bottoms  being  the  best  adapted  for  them.  They  increase 
wonderfully,  and  like  most  small  fish,  they  spawn  twice 
and  often  three  times  in  the  year.  Upon  most  of  our 
large  rivers,  as  well  as  upon  the  majority  of  our  small 
streams,  gudgeon  fishing  is  a  popular  pastime  in  its  sea- 
son, which  commences  with  July  and  ends  with  Septem- 
ber. The  following  is  the  system  mainly  resorted  to  upon 
the  Thames  and  Trent.  A  punt  is  moored  in  a  moderate 
flowing  stream,  four  or  perhaps  five  feet  in  depth.  The 
bottom  is  disturbed  by  a  large  and  heavy  metal  rake,  f 
brought  for  the  purpose,  when  the  fish  (which  are  grega- 
rious, going  in  large  shoals),  congregate  in  great  numbers 
in  the  water  thus  discolored  to  feed  upon  the  grubs  and 
larvae  of  insects.  But  little  skill  is  needed  to  catch  this 
fish.  Its  excessive  gullibility  is  well  known.  The  mean- 
ing expressed  by  being  "gudgeoned,"  is,  as  everybody 


*  The  American  yellow  perch  will  take  the  fly  freely.  I  have  caught 
them  on  the  rocky  shoals  of  Lake  Champlain  and  in  the  rivers  of  the 
Middle  States,  on  almost  every  variety  of  black  bass  flies. 

t  A  most  excellent  plan  to  adopt  when  fishing  for  flounders  in  salt 
water.  It  is  used  by  a  few  New  York  City  anglers,  and  in  no  other  sec- 
tion to  my  knowledge. 


BOTTOM   FISHTIs^G.  49 

knows,  being  easily  deceived.  Poets,  too,  adopt  the  bold 
little  gudgeon  as  an  analogy  to  convey  the  same  impres- 
sion, as  Gay  serenely  sings — 

"  What  gudgeons  are  we  men, 

Every  woman's  easy  prey ; 
Though  we  felt  the  hook,  again 

We  bite,  and  they  betray  !  " 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  finest  tackle  and  a  nine  or 
ten-foot  rod,  stiff  and  light,  are  essential  to  moderate  suc- 
cess. The  telescope  Japanese  bamboo  rods  answer  well 
for  these  fish,  though  we  cannot  commend  their  use  for 
fish  of  heavier  calibre.  The  finest  possible  line  should  be 
used;  as  to  whether  it  be  twist  or  plait  is  immaterial.  A 
light  cork,  or  better  still,  a  small  quill  float,  and  small 
'No.  12  hook,  complete  the  equipment.  Some  fishermen 
advocate  the  use  of  extra  strong  tackle  to  meet  exceptional 
emergencies;  as  for  instance,  when  angling  for  gudgeon 
they  will  employ  a  hook  and  line  equal  to  landing  a  heavy 
tench,  perch,  or  chub.  That  this  is  folly  is  proved  by 
the  result  of  a  trial  of  the  two  systems  in  the  weight  of 
fish  taken.  If  you  wish  to  take  perch  or  chub,  w^hy  not 
angle  for  them  ?  Do  not  use  unsuitable  tackle  upon  any 
pretext.  We  have  often  known  anglers  spoil  all  prospects 
of  sport  by  their  stupidity  in  this  respect,  rigging  up 
trout  baits  with  gimp  because  of  the  probable  presence 
of  a  pike,  for  instance,  in  which  case  the  result  is,  gener- 
ally speaking,  simply  nil. 

The  best  bait  for  these  fish  are  worms,  gentles,  and  the 
cad-bait  grub,  the  latter  found  in  its  sheath  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  water.  The  small  worm  known  in  the  Mid- 
lands as  the  "Oockspur"  is  the  favorite  lure,  and  the 
brandling,  too,  often  does  great  execution.  In  striking 
even  a  gudgeon,  a  little  art  and  aptness  tell  marvellously 
in  a  day's  fishing.  No  slack  line  should  intervene  be- 
tween the  rodster  and  the  feeding  fish,  as,  though  a  bold 
biter,  it  is  equally  energetic  in  rejecting  the  bait  when 
3 


50  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLEK. 

the  hard  substance  of  the  hook  is  detected.  A  rapid 
striker  will  hook  two  fish  to  a  dilatory  angler's  one.  The 
bait,  which  should  be  very  minute,  should  be  so  arranged 
as  to  just  escape  the  bottom. 

From  an  edible  point  of  view,  the  gudgeon  is  superior 
to  many,  we  may  say  the  majority,  of  fishes  that  inhabit 
fresh  water. 

Dace. — This  fish  seldom  attains  more  than  three- 
quarters  of  a  pound  weight,  though  occasionally  it  may 
reach  one  pound.  Dace  are  numerous  in  most  trout 
streams,  more  especially  in  those  of  Wales  and  the  south- 
em  counties  of  England.  They  afford  excellent  sport 
when  feeding  in  sufficient  quantities,  though  they  are 
occasionally  very  annoying  to  the  fly-fisher  for  trout;  in- 
deed, they  are  to  be  taken  in  large  numbers  by  a  gaudily 
dressed  fly,  towards  the  end  of  the  summer.  The  small 
palmers  (red,  gray,  and  black),  bumble,  and  red  tags,  etc., 
are  the  description  that  find  most  favor  in  the  eyes 
of  this  fish,  though  sometimes  they  are  by  no  means 
partial  in  this  respect. 

To  the  fly-angler  for  dace,  we  would  observe  that  when 
these  fish  are  fastidious  in  rising,  a  gentle,  or  a  wasp- 
grub,  or  even  a  tiny  strip  of  flannel,  when  placed  so  as  to 
hide  the  hook,  will  render  the  thing  effective;  but  the 
usual  mode  of  angling  for  these  fish  is  by  bottom  fishing. 
The  tackle  and  hooks  hereafter  recommended  for  roach 
are  equally  well  adapted  for  dace  fishing,  and  as  both 
are  found  upon  the  same  swims,  the  angler  frequently 
extracts  a  mixed  bag.  Like  the  gudgeon,  the  dace  is  a 
bold  biter,  and  is  sharp,  often  incredibly  so,  in  discharg- 
ing the  lure  if  not  struck  speedily.  It  is  unlike  the  roach 
in  the  latter  characteristic.  As  regards  gameness  the 
dace  has  considerable  repute.  Bait  fishing  for  dace  is 
mostly  followed,  and  is  most  productive  in  winter.  His 
flesh  is  not,  however,  much  appreciated  for  the  table. 


BOTTOM   FISHING.  51 

For  live  bait  fishing  for  pike  the  dace  is  valued,  and 
justly  so. 

The  Eoach*  {Genus  rutilus)  is  rightly  awarded  no 
mean  position  in  angling  literature.  This  cannot  be 
said  to  be  on  account  of  its  weight  and  size,  or  its 
edible  qualities,  but  purely  because  of  the  skill  re- 
quisite for  its  capture.  The  early  authors  we  know 
write  differently,  and  their  statements  may  then  have 
been  justified  by  their  comparatively  unsophisticated 
fish,  and  are  still  in  the  case  of  under-fed  pond  fish. 
With  river  roach,  however,  the  case  is  widely  different ; 
to  bag  a  decent  take,  the  rodster  must  be  a  practical  hand 
of  no  mean  attainments  and  experience.  This  branch  of 
angling  is  so  popular  in  these  days  that  upon  all  the  most 
noted  rivers  these  fish  are  marvellously  well  schooled,  so 
much  so  upon  certain  waters  as  to  rival  in  wiliness  the 
trout  upon  some  streams ;  but  the  accomplished  roach 
fisher  will  make  a  respectable  bag,  even  in  adverse  circum- 
stances, always  supposing  the  fish  are  there  to  catch. 
With  regard  to  the  suitable  equipage,  the  rod  demands 
the  first  attention.  This  should  be  stiff,  light,  and  of 
fair  length.  Some  anglers  use  implements  of  prodigious 
dimensions.  We  recommend  an  East  India  cane,  of  ten 
or  twelve  feet,  as  being  well  adapted  for  every  useful  pur- 
pose. Some  capital  roach  rods  are  made  from  lancewood, 
red  deal  being  employed  for  the  butt-piece.  When  good 
material  is  employed,  a  rod  of  the  following  dimensions 
for  a  three-part  rod  will  combine  lightness  with  strength. 
The  diameter  of  the  ferrules  at  the  top  of  the  butt  joint 


*  The  roach  of  our  rivers  will  take  the  fly,  if  small  and  bright  in  color. 
Few  of  them,  however,  are  caught  by  this  method  of  fishing.  On  the 
Delaware  River  from  the  piers  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, large  quantities  are  sometimes  caught  through  the  ice  by  the 
use  of  light  rods,  small  hooks,  and  dough  bait.  They  are  small  in  size, 
seldom  exceeding  seven  inches  in  length,  but  their  shyness  is  equal  to 
the  English  fish. 


52  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AIS^GLER. 

should  be  Yg  incli  inside,  that  of  the  end  of  the  middle 
piece  Yjg  of  an  inch,  reel  fittings  and  terminating  ferrules 
on  the  foot  of  the  butt  about  V/^  or  V/^  in  diameter.  This 
ratio  will  be  found  to  form  a  well-proportioned  taper 
from  the  hand  upwards,  the  wood,  of  course,  tapering  so 
as  to  fit  the  ferrules  without  the  metal  being  sunk  in  the 
joints.  Incalculable  disasters  ensue  from  a  non-observ- 
ance of  this  all-important  provision.  The  wood  of  the 
immense  majority  of  rods  manufactured,  being  robbed  at 
its  weakest  point  to  accommodate  the  ferrules,  leads  to 
frequent  breakages.  We  deal  more  fully  with  this  subject 
elsewhere.  Eoach  are  noted  for  their  excessive  shyness 
and  quickness  of  vision,  therefore  in  clear  water  it  is 
essential  to  exhibit  as  little  of  the  rod  and  person  as  pos- 
sible, as  in  addition  to  this  they  are  adepts,  when  they 
understand  the  situation,  at  extracting  neatly  the  bait 
from  the  hook,  and  leaving  the  mere  skin  or  frame  behind. 
We  remember  keeping  for  some  years  a  large  roach 
amongst  other  fish,  in  a  tank  fed  by  a  small  rill  of  spring 
water.  IJpon  our  casting  a  score  of  house  flies  or  gentles 
in  a  batch,  one  only  having  a  small  hook  concealed  care- 
fully, Mr.  Eoach  would  invariably  absorb  unhesitatingly 
all  and  every  insect  but  the  identical  specimen  containing 
the  hidden  hook,  nothing  of  which  but  the  point  would 
be  visible,  although  other  and  smaller  fish  would  exhibit 
no  such  scruples.  It  is  this  special  caution  of  the  roach 
that  calls  into  play  so  much  care  and  tact  on  the  part  of 
the  rodster.  The  line  should  be  of  the  very  finest  possible 
texture  and  undressed.  Eaw  silk  is  the  best  material  for 
firmness  and  strength.  When  angling  with  fine  line, 
more  especially  is  it  requisite  to  keep  proper  command 
over  the  bait  by  retaining  little  slack  line  from  the  tip  of 
the  rod  downwards.  Many  advantages  ensue  from  the 
use  of  an  extra  fine  line,  retaining  of  course  full  requisite 
strength,  both  in  live  bait,  bottom,  and  surface  fishing. 
As  every  angler  will  admit,  the  less  the  surface  of  the  line. 


BOTTOM   FISHING.  53 

the  less  resistance  offered  by  the  air,  and  the  greater 
chances  of  success  and  deception.  The  hook  is  also  a 
point  of  the  greatest  importance,  and  one  to  which  meagre 
attention  is  but  usually  paid.  A  bad  or  defective  hook 
is  an  abomination  to  the  user  ;  to  employ  one  is  as  detri- 
mental to  sport  as  the  use  of  pasteboard  bullets  would  be 
for  deer  stalking.  As  we  have  devoted  a  separate  chapter 
to  the  consideration  of  hooks,  we  shall  merely  quote  an 
instance  from  our  own  personal  experience,  anent  this 
subject. 

In  company  with  an  angling  acquaintance,  we  were 
fishing  upon  a  once  celebrated  roach  reach  on  the  Trent, 
not  many  miles  from  Burton.  Our  companion  was  rather 
positive  in  his  ideas  of  hooks.  He  inherited  a  notion 
from  his  sire,  who  it  was  asserted  was  the  best  roach  fisher 
of  his  day,  that  the  weight  and  dimensions  of  one's  takes 
ranged  in  a  certain  degree  according  to  the  weight  of 
metal  and  dimensions  of  the  hook  employed,  the  heresy 
of  which  doctrine  will  be  obvious  to  any  modern  disciple 
of  the  rod.  The  descendant  of  the  redoubtable  rodster 
favored  a  Xo.  8  Carlisle  hook,  and  nothing  we  could  ad- 
vance appeared  to  convince  him  of  the  absurdity  of  his 
prejudiced  opinions.  Finally,  we  arranged  to  fish  the 
matter  out,  hence  it  was  that  we  repaired  to  a  noted 
spot  upon  the  noble  Trent.  Circumstances  were  favor- 
able to  sport,  and  as  the  swim  had  been  nicely  and  judi- 
ciously baited  the  day  previous,  we  quickly  did  some 
execution.  After  an  hour  or  two's  fishing,  we  had  gained 
gradually  but  at  an  increasing  rate  on  our  antagonist ;  he 
accounted  for  this  by  affirming  that  we  had  monopolized 
the  best  position,  on  which  we  ^'swapped"  places.  The 
main  result,  however,  was  still  the  same.  Our  companion 
now  suggested  that  the  secret  lay  in  our  bait,  on  which 
our  reserve  was  immediately  placed  at  his  disposal.  Still 
the  same  result  appeared,  though  in  a  much  more  marked 
degree,   and  our  friend  now  became  irritable,  and  his 


54  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLBR. 

patience  collapsed,  together  with  his  rod  and  tackle. 
"  Luck's  dead  against  me,  and  it's  useless  fighting  against 
fate,"  was  the  explanation  tendered,  while  the  process  of 
unjointing  was  being  gone  through.  We  now  thought  it 
high  time  to  expostulate  by  delivering  ourselves  of  our 
view  of  the  affair,  which  we  speedily  did,  winding  up  with 
an  offer  to  so  rig  up  our  friend  that  he  would  equal  if  not 
rival  us.  This  was  finally  carried  out,  and  the  result 
showed  that  with  an  accurately  constructed  hook  five 
bites  amounted  upon  the  average  to  four  fish,  whilst  with 
a  badly  made  or  deformed  one,  the  bites,  or  rather  nibbles 
in  this  case,  yielded  but  a  meagre  per  centage  of  captures, 
the  precise  number  ranging,  as  a  matter  of  course,  accord- 
ing to  the  size  and  nature  of  the  hook. 

The  float  should  be  very  light.  Another  consideration 
is  the  substance  to  mount  the  hooks  upon — whether  hair 
or  gut — some  anglers  preferring  one,  and  some  the  other.* 
There  are  equally  good  anglers  upon  both  sides,  but  the 
ancient  hair,  it  cannot  be  denied,  is  rapidly  losing 
ground  before  refined  gut,  which  is  now  imported  in  such 
immense  quantities  from  Spain,  Sicily,  China,  and  else- 
where, and  may  be  said  to  be  thrice  the  strength  and 
half  the  substance  of  the  traditional  hair.  It  is,  or 
should  be,  the  object  of  the  fisherman  to  reduce  his  lines 
and  general  tackle  so  as  to  be  as  nearly  invisible  as  possi- 
ble, to  which  end  it  is  essential  that  the  bulk  and  surface 
presentable  should  be  reduced  as  far  as  is  compatible  with 
strength.  It  is  therefore  an  advance  in  the  right  direc- 
tion (and  one  that  should  have  been  taken  before)  to 
have  the  gut  drawn  whilst  in  its  gummy  state  to  as  fine 
proportions  as  are  requisite  to  meet  special  cases,  for, 
although  we  were  the  originators  of  the  gut-drawing  sys- 
tem, we  have  no  hesitation  in  proclaiming  the  superiority 
of  the  gut  drawn  accurately,  prior  to  its  being  set  and 

*  Hair  snoods  are  used  by  the  roach  anglers  of  Philadelphia. 


BOTTOM  FISHING.  55 

hard,  as  then  it  retains  its  enamelled  surface  entire.  Had 
this  been  done  a  quarter  of  a  century  or  so  ago,  the  neces- 
sity for  our  oft- repeated  researches  would  not  haye  exist- 
ed. To  assert  that  hair  of  any  description  is  equal  to 
even  gut  of  equal  thickness,  is  absurd.  The  former  is 
not  only  weak,  being  hollow,  but  is  given  to  stretch  when 
strained,  and  is  very  susceptible  to  breaking  at  knots.  It 
magnifies  greatly  in  the  water,  and,  lastly,  absorbs  the 
wet,  and  swells.  On  the  other  hand  very  little  can  be 
urged  in  regard  to  the  use  of  the  gut  that  is  detrimental. 
It  can  now  be  obtained  one-third  the  thickness  of  hair, 
each  strand  being  far  superior  in  point  of  strength,  and 
when  slightly  stained  the  color  of  the  water  where  it  is 
intended  to  be  used,  it  is  as  near  being  invisible  as  any- 
thing ever  discovered.  Hair  effectually  superseded  the 
Indian  weed,  and  silk-worm  gut  will  eventually  supersede 
hair  quite  as  effectually. 

To  return  to  our  subject.  Gentles,  pastes,  boiled  grain, 
cad  or  straw  bait,  and  small  red  worms  are  most  worthy 
the  angler's  attention  as  baits.  It  is  necessary  to  bait 
moderately  the  swim  fixed  upon  the  evening  previous. 
We  emphasize  moderately,  because  it  is  the  custom  to 
sink  so  much  food  for  the  fish  under  the  appellation  of 
ground-bait,  that  by  the  time  the  expectant  rodster 
** turns  up"  the  whole  school  will  have  gorged  them- 
selves and  dispersed  to  more  secluded  nooks  to  doze  off 
the  effects;  hence  it  is  the  enterprising  angler  so  fre- 
quently meets  with  scant  sport.  This  is  often  attributed 
to  the  influence  of  passing  electricity,  whether  in  the 
earth,  or  atmosphere,  or  may  be  both;  failing  this,  and  a 
thousand  and  one  other  abstruse  reasons,  the  weary  angler 
can  always  comfort  himself  and  explain  to  his  friends  and 
neighbors  that  as  there  was  scarcely  anything  in  the  swim 
in  question,  it  followed  in  the  natural  course  of  things 
that  little  could  be  hauled  out  of  it.  After  baiting  judi- 
ciously overnight,  the  fish  will  have  congregated  upon 


56  THE   SCIEJS^TIFIC   ANGLER. 

the  baited  spot  at  daybreak,  if  not  before,  when  they  are 
on  the  forage  for  breakfast.  The  object  in  baiting  over 
night,  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  is  merely  to  produce  an 
appetizing  effect  on  the  next  morning.  If  the  object  in 
view  be  to  collect  fish  at  any  given  spot  from  more  distant 
localities,  a  good  store  of  ground-bait  should  be  placed 
there  for  a  day  or  two  previous,  always  allowing  a  whole 
day  and  night's  interval  between  the  final  baiting  and  the 
time  for  angling. 

Having  first  ascertained  the  depth  by  the  method  pre- 
viously described,  and  arranged  the  float  so  as  to  admit 
of  the  bait  ranging  three  or  four  inches  from  the  bottom 
of  the  water,  the  hand  supporting  the  rod  should  be 
ever  ready  to  knock  home  the  hook  nicely  and  carefully, 
and  not  too  hastily.  The  correct  motion  will  be  readily 
acquired  by  practice.  Small  fish  will  often  take  the  float 
under  by  a  jerk,  whilst  the  corpulent  members  of  the 
same  species  will  scarcely  indicate  their  presence  by  a 
disturbance  of  the  float  at  all,  though  when  these  begin 
to  pay  their  addresses  to  your  lure  after  this  style,  it 
generally  proves  a  favorable  symptom  for  sport ;  but  fre- 
quently this  exhibition  of  tenderness  and  delicacy  is 
merely  the  result  of  their  style  of  mouth-work,  if  we 
may  be  allowed  to  use  the  expression,  the  object  of  which, 
the  angler  soon  finds  out,  is  to  extract  the  bait  from  the 
hook  neatly  and  effectively.  Now  this  is  just  as  bad  a 
sign  as  the  other  is  a  good  one,  and  what  is  worse,  as  a 
general  thing,  the  angler  cannot  help  himself.  A  plan 
we  have  found  to  answer  ourselves  in  these  circumstances 
is  to  hang  a  scrap  of  the  finest  and  best  gut  one  quarter 
of  an  inch  below  the  hook,  and  upon  this  excessively  fine 
gut  to  attach  a  very  small  hook  (though  of  small  size,  to 
retain  good  strength  of  metal),  upon  this  one-half  of  a 
maggot  or  gentle  is  attached,  with  a  full-sized  one,  or 
even  two,  upon  the  hook  above ;  this  will  not  fail  to 
''  fetch"  the  most  finical  of  the  finny  race  in  question. 


BOTTOM  PISHIKQ.  57 

Upon  hooking  a  fish,  the  chief  consideration  must  be 
how  to  extract  him  without  damage  to  the  swim,*  dash 
and  bustle  being  highly  unfavorable  to  the  situation,  the 
capture  must  be  consummated  as  soon  as  is  compatible 
with  the  general  weal.  A  judicious  change  of  situation 
is  the  best  thing  under  the  circumstanoes,  therefore 
when  this  can  be  carried  out  effectually  the  fish  may  be 
quietly  landed  in  some  secluded  side  spot  away  from 
the  baited  swim. 

The  persistent  voracity  of  bleak,  where  they  are  numer- 
ous, is  often  very  annoying  to  the  roach  fisher.  These 
small  fish,  locating  near  the  surface  of  the  ^ater,  absorb 
the  lure  before  it  comes  within  the  ken  of  the  portly 
roach.  The  effect  of  this  is  the  more  tantalizing  when 
fishing  with  gentles,  or  grain  of  any  description.  When 
this  petty  larceny  is  going  on,  resort  must  be  had  to  the 
following  expedients  :  Get  a  fair-sized  piece  of  paste  or 
clay,  bell-shaped,  the  hollow  of  which  must  be  filled  up 
with  dry  bran.  This  should  then  be  attached  to  the 
hook  and  slowly  let  down.  The  bran  will  gradually 
escape  as  it  sinks,  the  bright  atoms  of  which,  as  they  are 
carried  down-stream,  attract  the  small  fry  after  them. 
When  clay  or  paste — the  latter  is  preferable,  as  it  will  serve 
a  double  purpose  in  dispersing  the  bleak  and  forming 
ground  bait  for  the  roach — is  not  convenient,  a  handfulf 
of  bran  thrown  in  the  water  will  have  the  desired  effect, 
though  somewhat  temporary  in  its  character.  To  reach^ 
the  roach  at  the  bottom  of  a  still  deep  hole,  a  few  gentles 
should  be  pressed  in  clay,  leaving  small  outlets  for  escape. 
A  few  of  these  will  have  the  desired  effects  of  attracting 
the  notice  and  exciting  the  foraging  instincts  of  the 
larger  fish.     Whenever  roach  fail  to  approach  the  bait 

*  The  fish  in  a  given  water— the  swim  of  fish. 

+ 1  have  sometimes  found  that  a  handful  of  earth  thrown  into  the 
water  will  recall  the  fish  when  they  have  temporarily  stopped  biting. 


58  THE   SCIENTIFIC   A]S"GLEE. 

presented,  a  change  should  be  made,  if  practicable.  The 
wisest  policy  is,  however,  to  examine  the  stomach  of  the 
first  capture,  as  in  the  case  of  fly-fishing. 

We  have  frequently  found  a  predominance  of  beetles, 
and  even  flies,  in  the  stomachs  of  the  fish,  which  ac- 
counted for  a  previous  marked  indifference  to  our  bottom 
bait :  we  are  now  speaking  of  roach  in  our  smaller 
streams,  where  the  variety  of  food  is  much  greater.  In 
the  lowest  portions  of  the  majority  of  our  best  trout 
streams,  as,  for  instance,  the  tributaries  of  the  Thames 
and  Trent,  much  execution  may  be  done  with  the  sunk 
house-fly  in  September,  when  these  and  the  wood-fly  are 
blind  and  feeble,  and  are  scattered  as  the  falling  leaves 
by  each  gust  of  wind.  Whatever  may  be  the  contents  of 
the  stomach  of  the  fish,  the  bait  should  harmonize  as 
much  as  possible  with  what  is  found  to  be  the  inclination 
of  the  quarry,  whether  it  be  worms,  grubs,  larvae  of 
insects,  or  even  weeds,  for  the  roach  is  occasionally  a 
vegetarian.  In  the  case  of  the  last-named  predominancy, 
paste  may  be  used  with  advantage,  and  failing  this,  silk- 
weed  when  procurable.  W^hatever  you  do,  do  not  use 
stale  bait,  or  the  sure  Nemesis  will  be  stale  sport.  Roach 
are  excessively  nice  in  their  ideas,  and  the  careful  pan- 
derer  to  their  base  desires  will  reap  ample  payment  for 
his  exertions.* 


**  *  I  have  given  the  chapter  on  roach  fishing  in  full,  because  every  line 
of  it  is  of  use  to  that  class  of  anglers  who  fish  shallow  ponds  or  small 
lakes  and  the  rivers  above  tide  water,  where  the  sunfish  and  perch 
gather  in  the  deep  holes.  Fine  fishing  (there  is  none  more  delicate 
than  the  English  method  of  fishing  for  roach)  is  in  such  waters  indis- 
pensable to  a  fair  creel.  The  section  on  Barbel  fishing  is  omitted,  as  we 
have  no  fish  in  American  waters  which  can  be  called  its  congener. 


BOTTOM   FISHING.  59 


CHAPTER    IV. 


BOTTOM  FISUmG— Continued. 

ANGUNQ  FOR  CARP  AND  CHUB. 

The  Carp* — (Genus  Cyprinus)^is  a  very  wily  fish  ;  in 
waters  much  fished  chey  come  rather  as  an  exceptional 
prize  to  the  angler,  whose  attentions  and  baits  were 
intended  for  the  allurement  of  other  fish.  In  well-pre- 
served and  little-fished  waters  they  are  to  be  occasionally 
taken  of  very  large  size.  The  smaller  fish,  under  three 
pounds  or  so,  are  far  less  cunning. 

The  angler  for  carp  cannot  be  too  careful  and  quiet  in 
his  movements,  nor  too  skillful  in  the  use  of  the  tackle, 
which  latter  cannot  possibly  be  too  fine,  so  long  as  a 
reasonable  amount  of  strength  is  retained.  We  put  forth 
the  above,  notwithstanding  the  exhortations  of  the  early 
writers  as  to  the  use  of.  strong  ^^  harnessing"  and  tackle, 
for  if  any  fish  is  gifted  with  reasoning  powers  it  is  the 
carp;  as  even  when  hunger-bitten  it  displays  the  most 
tantalizing  caution  in  what  it  absorbs.  An  all-round 
inspection  is  invariably  given  to  the  bait  before  it  is  cau- 
tiously closed  upon;  sometimes  the  rodster  in  clear  water 
plainly  discerns  a  yellow  monster,  whii)h,  after  describing 
a  number  of  circles  around  the  bait,  traces  the  line  to  the 
surface,  which  done,  the  carping  critic  waves  a  courteous 
or  contemptuous  farewell  flourish  of  his  broad  tail  and  is 

*  Our  author  certainly  presents  us  with  a  pleasing  picture  of  the 
"cuteness"  of  the  carp  as  a  rod  fish,  American  anglers,  however, 
should  not  become  enthusiastic  over  this  fish  until,  after  due  trial  and  a 
full  probation,  he  is  found  to  merit  the  honor.  Change  of  habitat  some- 
times creates  a  vast  difference  in  the  game  qualities  of  a  fish,  but  I  am 
disposed  to  discredit  the  possession  of  such  qualities  by  any  fish  that 
feeds,  from  choice,  on  a  vegetable  diet. 


60  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

gone.*  Occasionally,  however,  the  programme  is  varied, 
for  instead  of  clearing  up  the  problem  by  a  judicious 
investigation  up  to  the  source,  he  proceeds  skillfully  and 
artistically  to  dissect  the  bait,  with  a  view  to  clear  up 
the  mystery.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  tyro  to 
have  the  bait  taken  from  the  hook  for  hours  without  in- 
termission. There  cannot  be  a  rational  doubt  that  the 
fish,  when  this  is  the  case,  fully  comprehends  the  situa- 
tion. Worms,  when  Tvell  scoured  and  presented  lively 
and  fresh,  are  good  baits.  These,  however,  are  to  be  used 
at  the  bottom,  ledger f  fashion,  only  instead  of  the  r.sual 
large  lead,  a  couple  of  perforated  swan  shot  should  be 
strung  upon  the  line,  and  confined  to  within  two- thirds 
of  a  yard  above  the  hook  and  bait,  by  a  small-sized  shot 
attached  to  the  Ime  at  the  requisite  place;  or  a  double 
knot  of  the  gut  may  be  made  to  answer  the  same  purpose. 
Potatoes,  when  part  boiled,  we  have  always  found  a  more 
killing  bait  than  any  other  for  these  fish;  they  may  be 
used  with  ledger  tackle  as  above. 

Our  method  of  using  the  above  is  to  rig  up  three  and 
one-half  yards  of  medium  gut — a  strongish  fly  cast  will 
answer  this  purpose — with  three-dropper  hook — No.  6, 
Kendal,  are  best — on  eight  or  ten -inch  gut.  These  are 
placed  two  feet  apart,  a  small  shot  being  fixed  to  each  yard 
of  the  main  gut  line.  The  whole  of  the  hooks  are  then  to 
be  baited  with  the  prepared  potatoes,  a  piece  the  size  of  a 
cherry  being  used  for  each  hook,  the  whole  delivered  out 

*  This  quality  of  caution  and  captiousness  in  the  carp  is  displayed  in 
other  Qsh.  The  little  "  sunny"  sometimes  exhibits  it,  and  I  have  seen  a 
blacli  bass  flash  from  out  of  a  depth  of  six  or  eight  feet  of  water,  nose 
the  artificial  fly,  and  then  back  water  slowly  with  a  sort  of  "  no-you- 
dont"  flirt  of  the  tail,  as  palpably  intelligible  as  the  finger  to  nose  action 
of  the  street  gamin. 

t  The  ledger  consists  of  a  perforated  bullet,  or  a  roll  of  sheet  lead, 
about  an  ounce  or  so  in  weight.  When  this  lies  upon  the  bottom,  the 
line  will  run  freely  through  it,  until  checked  by  a  shot  fastened  about 
two  feet  above  the  hook. 


BOTTOM   riSHII^"G.  61 

by  a  careful  underhand  cast.  The  bait  is  pitched  well  out 
to  an  open  space  on  the  water's  surface.  The  prospects  of 
sport  are  improved  when  the  surface  is  covered  with  weeds, 
as  the  rodster's  movements  and  person  are  thus  obscured. 
When  a  bite  is  indicated,  an  interval  of  a  few  seconds, 
varying  according  to  circumstances,  must  be  given  before 
striking;  a  safe  signal  is  the  attempt  to  carry  away  the 
bait;  the  fish  has  it  then  within  his  jaws,  and  a  sharp 
strike  may  be  given  by  the  time  it  has  progressed  a  couple 
of  feet  or  so.  In  clear  open  standing  water  it  is  essential 
that  the  angler  should  keep  as  much  out  of  sight,  and  as 
stationary  upon  the  bank  as  possible;  an  intervening  bush 
or  tree  trunk  may  serve  as  an  admirable  cover  to  operate 
from. 

There  is  an  endless  variety  of  bait  used  for  carp,  par- 
ticularly of  pastes,  which  range  from  a  compound  of 
honey  and  sugar  to  bread  and  bran.  From  our  own  per- 
sonal experience,  we  cannot  commend  them  as  being 
generally  efficient,  though  we  have  occasionally  found 
them  taking,  but  when  a  particular  kind  of  bait  has  been 
much  used,  a  change  is  often  effective.* 

Chub  (Genus  Leuciscus). — These  fish  may  be  fished 
for  by  an  almost  endless  variety  of  baits.  They  will 
take  a  fly  with  as  much  avidity  as  they  will  swallow  a 
worm.  Bottom  fishers  chiefly  use  pastes,  graves  or 
scratching,  ox-brain,  and  the  worm,  when  angling  spe- 
cially for  these  fish.  But  they  are  more  often  caught 
when  angling  for  other  fish,  as  for  barbel,  roach,  bream, 
etc.  Float-fishing  is  the  best  in  the  winter  months, 
when  surface  and  midwater  food  is  scarce.  An  old 
haunt  for  these  fish  will  often  yield  great  sport  upon  a 
sharp  frosty  day  in  midwinter.  We  once  took  six  fish 
that  scaled  twenty-seven  pounds  from  one  hole  on  the 

*  The  few  paragraphs  on  fishing  for  tench  and  bream  are  omitted. 
They  possess  no  interest  to  anglers  on  this  side  of  the  water. 


62  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

Dove  below  Rocester.  The  scales  of  some  of  these  were 
the  size  of  a  shilling.  Chub  are  to  be  steadily  headed  from 
the  hole  when  hooked,  in  order  to  avoid  disfcurbing  the  re- 
mainder of  the  school.  Ledgering  is  also  a  favorite 
style  of  angling  for  them  in  some  waters,  the  gut  and 
tackle  being  generally  stouter  than  for  other  fish,  as 
when  a  large  fish  is  hooked  it  is  a  case  of  ^'pull  devil, 
pull  baker."  A  slender  weak  rod  should  especially  be 
eschewed,  as  to  keep  the  fish  from  the  roots  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  their  haunts,  the  best  built  and  most  evenly 
proportioned  rod  procurable  is  unequal  to  the  occasion  ; 
a  certain  amount  of  pliant  play  is  necessary  to  aid  the 
tackle.  The  best  wood  to  employ  for  a  bottom  rod  for 
chub  is  Eamshorn  Ash  (English)  for  butt,  hickory  for 
middle  joint,  and  a  spliced  treble  cane  top.  We  have 
had  a  rod  of  this  description  in  use  for  the  last  forty 
years,  and  it  is  still  as  sound  and  useful  as  ever.  Upon 
all  bottom  rods  the  rings  should  be  upright,  and  the  reel 
fittings,  as  in  the  case  of  the  fly-rod,  should  be  fixed  to 
the  bottom  of  the  butt  joint,  so  as  to  balance  as  much 
as  possible.  To  place  it  a  foot  or  so  from  the  extremity 
of  the  joint  is  foolish,  it  being  just  in  the  way  of  the 
rodster's  hand  when  using,  and  also  highly  inconvenient 
generally.  In  the  early  autumn  months  chub  are  to  be 
taken  by  dibbing*  (surface  fishing)  daping  (midwater) 
with  live  insects,  such  as  the  larger  of  the  files  and  bee- 
tles, humble  bees,  grasshoppers,  etc.     Instructions  as  to 


*  "  Dibbins: "  or  "  daping  "  may  be  briefly  described  as  follows  :  Hav- 
ing selected  the  special  pool  or  hole  where  the  chub  are  known  to  be, 
the  angler  cautiously  approaches  the  spot,  keeping  out  of  sight,  and,  if 
necessary,  crawling  upon  his  hands  and  knees.  Upon  reaching  the  de- 
sired point,  he  remains  quiet  for  a  moment  or  two  to  allow  the  fish  to 
recover  their  equanimity,  if  it  has  been  disturbed.  Then  gently  extend- 
ing the  rod  over  the  water,  he  allows  the  baited  hook  to  fall  from  his 
hand,  so  that  it  will  hang  five  to  eight  inches  above  the  water.  Moving 
it  quietly  over  the  spot  where  he  thinks  the  fish  are  most  plentiful,  the 
bait  is  dropped  quickly  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 


BOTTOM  FISHING.  63 

the  method  of  using  these  wa  have  given  in  a  separate 
chapter.  Upon  the  Thames  and  Trent  of  late  young 
frogs  have  become  the  favorite  bait  for  chub  in  their  sea- 
son. The  average  yield  of  a  day's  '^chubbing"  with 
these  lures  is  about  eight  to  ten  brace  of  heavy  fish.  This 
would  often  be  larger  were  it  not  for  the  smaller  fry  biting 
so  voraciously,  and  thereby  causing  loss  of  time  to  the 
angler,  whose  duty  it  is  to  carefully  unhook  and  return 
them  to  the  river.  It  is  now  no  uncommon  thing  to 
meet  an  angler  with  his  bait-kettle  converted  into  a  tem- 
porary prison  for  frogs,  so  popular  has  become  this  sys- 
tem of  fishing  for  chub. 

The  arrangement  of  tackle  is  simple:  A  No.  4  Kendal 
hook,  at  the  end  of  two  feet  of  tolerably  strong  round 
gut  (slightly  stained  blue)  with  a  scrap  of  lead  wire 
wound  round  above  the  knot.  The  baby  frog  is  then 
hooked  by  a  bit  of  the  tough  skin  at  the  back  of  the 
neck,  and  carefully  lowered  from  the  point  of  the  rod, 
the  weight  of  the  bait  taking  out  the  line  through  the  up- 
standing rings,  when  allowed,  until  it  reaches  the  water's 
surface,  the  rod  meanwhile  being  kept  stationary.  The 
struggling  movements  of  the  captive  quickly  attract  the 
attention  of  the  best  and  largest  fish  near,  amongst  whom 
the  bait  is  often  divided,  and,  when  this  is  so,  great 
diversion  is  afforded,  as  eventually  the  most  voracious  is 
the  first  to  grace  the  creel.  The  most  artistic  method  of 
extracting  chub  is  to  fly-fish  for  them.  The  surface  flies 
for  these  fish  should  be  large  and  gaudy;  if  nature  must 
be  copied  at  all,  bees,  wasps,  and  cock-chafers  are  the 
things  to  reproduce,  the  ordinary  red,  black,  and  dun 
palmers,  having  plenty  of  tinsel  upon  them,  are  also  kill- 
ing. Lake  or  sea-trout  fly  size  are  very  good,  also  old 
May-flies,  and  indeed  anything  that  is  sizable  and  gaudy. 
A  good  strong  cast  should  be  used  with  these,  especially 
when  the  water  is  a  little  turbid,  or  discolored.  The  red- 
haired  caterpillar,  too,  may  be  used  for  chub  with  marked 


64  THE  SCIEl^TIFIO  AKGLEE. 

effect,  in  the  way  we  recommend  for  trout  and  other  fish. 
The  attractiveness  of  any  fly  or  beetle,  whether  artificial 
or  natural,  is  greatly  enhanced  in  the  eyes  of  a  chub  by 
the  addition  of  a  couple  of  maggots,  wasp-grub,  or  even 
a  narrow  strip  of  wash-leather  or  white  kid  upon  the 
hook.  Early  morning  fishing  in  the  autumn  is  often 
more  productive  than  mid-day  or  night;  why  this  is  so  we 
can  scarcely  say.  The  minnow  is  as  easily  taken  by  these 
fish  as  any  other  bait,  and  towards  twilight  in  July, 
August,  and  September,  the  chub  will  ^^run"  at  either 
natural  or  artificial,  so  long  as  the  bait  is  clear,  bright, 
and  well  spun. 


CHAPTER  V. 


BOTTOM  FISUmQ— Continued. 

PUNT    FISHING,    BANK    FISfflNG,    BOTTOM    LINES,    FLOATS,     SILK- 
WORM GUT,   REELS  OR  WINCHES. 

In  punt  fishing,  a  much  shorter  rod  should  be  em- 
ployed than  is  necessary  for  fishing  from  the  bank.  The 
material  should  be  cane.  The  East  Indian  variety  is  by 
far  the  best,  both  for  durability  and  strength.  This  will 
be  found  to  stand  heavy  punishment  when  other  woods 
give  way;  indeed,  we  doubt  as  to  whether  the  hardest  and 
most  solid  wood  that  grows  will  surpass,  or  even  equal  it 
in  these  characteristics.  Solid  wooded  rods  are  not  only 
more  apt  to  break,  but  to  bend  permanently,  so  as  to 
necessitate  the  reversing  of  the  rings  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  joints  periodically;  but  there  is  one  thing  we  can- 
not omit  calling  attention  to  anent  cane  rods,  and  that  is 
their  liability  to  snap  at  the  joints  close  to  the  ferrules. 


BOTTOM   FISHING.  65 

There  is,  of  course,  a  stiff  place  where  the  parts  meet  in 
a  non-spliced  rod,  and  when  an  unusual  strain  is  applied 
to  it,  the  wood  immediately,  above  or  below,  snaps  off 
short.  The  nuisance  of  this  may  be  effectually  avoided 
by  inserting  a  small  wooden  plug,  of  some  four  or  five 
inches  in  length,  in  the  hollow  of  the  cane,  which  equal- 
izes the  strength  of  the  rod  when  correctly  proportioned 
throughout.  Solid  upright  rings  are  preferable  to  the 
ordinary  loose  ones;  the  most  expensive  rods  are  some- 
times fitted  up  with  agate  mounted  rings  and  tips  when 
intended  for  trolling  purposes.  These  prevent  the  rings 
from  being  worn  by  the  constant  friction.  Instead  of  the 
ordinary  circular-shaped  rings,  we  advise  the  use  of  dome 
or  conical  ones.  These  are  not  liable  to  entangle  one's 
line,  no  convenient  foothold  being  presented  by  their 
sloping  sides.  The  limp  loose  line  entwines  around  any 
projecting  substance  presented,  and  any  removal  of  a  ha- 
bitual fouling  place  must  of  necessity  be  a  step  in  the  right 
direction.  In  boat  or  punt  fishing,  the  method  of  pro- 
cedure varies  somewhat  upon  different  waters,  the  custom 
in  certain  districts  being  to  moor  across  stream,  in  others 
in  a  slanting  direction.  All  we  have  to  say  upon  this 
point  is,  that  the  great  consideration  at  all  times  should 
be  how  to  disturb  the  water  as  little  as  possible.  A  con- 
stant surging  against  the  stationary  boat  cannot  fail  to 
act  detrimentally  as  regards  sport  in  most  circumstances. 
In  fishing  from  the  bank,  a  tolerably  stiff  and  strong 
rod  should  be  employed,  so  as  to  have  power  over  the 
quarry  when  it  exhibits  a  strong  and  determined  desire 
to  retire  into  some  thorny  retreat  in  the  bank  beneath 
your  feet.  The  novice  quickly  advances,  upon  a  few 
experiences  of  this  nature,  in  the  piscatorial  path  of 
knowledge.  The  first  impulse  of  the  inexperienced  is  to 
extend  the  rod  over  the  shoulder,  and  move  backwards, 
so  as  to  end  matters  speedily  by  extracting  the  hooked 
fish  from  his  element.     Matters  take  a  sudden  turn,  how- 


66  THE   SCIEiiTTIFIC   AI^GLEB. 

ever,  the  fish  running  in  to  inspect  some  festooned  re- 
treat. Here  he  speedily  entwines  the  line  in  so  effective 
a  manner  that  all  communication  with  his  newly  found 
acquaintance  is  cut  off,  and  when  matters  stand  thus,  the 
cutting  process  is  generally  applied  to  the  reel  line  as  a 
closing  act  in  the  scene.*  To  land  an  extra  heavy  fish 
with  a  limber  rod  would  be  well  nigh  an  impossibility 
where  the  surroundings  are  unfavorable.  The  correct 
way  to  play  a  fish  from  the  bank,  in  a  powerful  current, 
or  still  deep,  is  to  extend  the  rod  over  the  water,  whilst 
the  line  is  drawn  in  as  rapidly  as  circumstances  will  ad- 
mit; and  when  a  staunch  tool  is  the  sustaining  medium, 
the  fish  cannot  possibly,  by  anything  short  of  a  breakage, 
effect  his  object.  The  weapons  not  infrequently  used  in 
bank  fishing  are  not  only  undesirably  heavy  and  unwieldy, 
but  unnecessarily  so.  A  rod  that  may  be  handled  deftly, 
may  be  used  to  much  greater  advantage  than  one  a  few 
feet  more  in  length.  A  twenty-foot  rod,t  whether  it  be 
a  salmon  or  merely  a  banking  bottom  rod,  is  a  cumber- 
some implement;  that,  for  precision  of  casting  and  dis- 
tance covering,  as  also  for  general  utility,  is  easily  sur- 
passed by  a  modest  weapon  of  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet  in 
the  hands  of  a  proficient  rodster.  Personally,  we  always 
use  bottom  rods  full  two  feet  below  the  usual  average 
length,  no  matter  where  we  may  be  fishing. 

The  line  is  the  next  subject  for  consideration.  For 
bottom  fishing  generally,  lines  should  invariably  be  as 
fine,  and  at  the  same  time  as  strong,  as  it  is  possible  to 


*  The  multiplying  reel,  so  useful  la  the  recovery  of  the  line  on  an  in- 
coming fish,  is  not  esteemed  by  English  anglers.  While  admitting  its 
usefulness  in  that  respect,  they  claim  that  it  speedily  gets  out  of  order, 
the  cogs  wearing  out  quickly.  It  is  evident  that  the  almost  perfect 
American  makes  have  not  been  handled  by  our  brother  anglers  over  the 
sea.    The  new  "  automatic  ''  reel  also  has  not  been  introduced  to  them. 

t  On  the  Lea,  a  river  in  England,  rods  of  twenty-three  feet  are  used  by 
bank  fishermen. 


BOTTOM   FISHIlfG.  67 

obtain  them.  Eaw  unbleached  silks  are  infinitely  stronger 
than  the  ordinary  bleached  ones.  The  fine  *'  dram  "  silks 
are  equal  in  strength,  and  occasionally  superior,  to  the 
coarser,  more  bulky,  and  heavier.  With  the  extra  fine- 
ness of  texture,  it  is  needless  for  us  to  add  the  scarcity  of 
the  article  is  found  to  range. 

Plaited  lines  should  always  be  preferred  to  twist,  cable- 
laid  though  It  be;  the  miseries  of  a  line  always  twisting 
and  curling  being  only  equalled  by  the  constant  breaking 
of  a  tender  one.  A  line  of  one-half  the  substance  of  an- 
other, if  dressed  in  a  proper  manner,  will  be  found  to  be 
much  stiff er  and  less  liable  to  "kink."  With  regard  to 
color,  in  habitually  discolored  waters,  green  or  sandy- 
brown  should  be  used;  in  fine,  clear,  and  open  waters,  a 
pale  gray  or  cloud  color  is  the  best  tint. 

No  more  weights  or  sinkers  must  be  employed  than  can 
possibly  be  avoided.  The  same  observation  also  applies 
to  the  float.  A  cork  should  never  be  used  when  it  may 
be  effectually  substituted  by  a  quill.  Lastly,  never  use 
even  a  quill  when  no  float  is  really  needed.  We  have 
oftentimes  made  a  first-rate  float  of  a  moderate-sized  leaf; 
a  sycamore,  chestnut,  birch,  or  oak  tree,  when  so  situated 
as  to  extend  over  the  water,  offers  admirable  facilities  for 
this.  A  worm,  fly,  maggot,  or  what-not  is  attached  in 
the  usual  way  upon  a  slightly- weigh  ted  gut-line.  A  leaf 
is  then  procured,  the  shank  being  split  up  the  center 
carefully  until  the  middle  of  the  leaf  is  reached.  The 
"tack"  (just  below  a  knot)  is  then  inserted  in  the  in- 
cision, which  is  now  closed,  and  occasionally  it  may  be, 
for  better  security,  wrapped  with  a  scrap  of  silk  or  waxed 
thread.  The  leaf  is  fitted,  and  found  not  only  to  act  well 
as  a  float,  but  also  in  the  midst  of  a  bright  sunlit  water 
to  materially  aid  the  guile,  by  shading  the  tackle.  The 
least  possible  stir  or  movement  is  made  manifest  by  the 
flat  and  flexible  leaf.  Porcupine  quills  are  the  best  floats 
for  all-round  work.     For  heavy  water  and  large  fish  it  is 


68  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

sometimes  necessary  to  have  these  mounted  with  a  little 
cork,  but  no  conspicuously  bright  coloring  matter  should 
be  used  in  its  finish.  A  speck  of  bright  color  (say  yermil- 
ion)  certainly  aids  the  eye  when  placed  upon  the  tip  of 
the  quill,  so  as  to  project  out  of  the  water;  indeed,  this 
is  a  wrinkle  that  every  float-fisher  is  not  acquainted  with. 
The  new  luminous  *  floats  are  very  useful  for  special  pur- 
poses, though  we  cannot  say  we  think  it  probable  they 
will  ever  become  generally  used,  float-fishing  in  the  dark 
not  being  at  present  a  popular  pastime. 

The  runners  appended  to  the  float  should  be  of  rubber; 
these,  being  flexible,  fit  any  ordinary-sized  quill.  The 
non-flexible  runners  are  a  nuisance,  and  should  ever  be 
avoided.  They  are  always  cracking  when  dry,  and  are 
highly  inconvenient  in  more  ways  than  one. 

The  best  and  strongest  gut  (silkworm  for  piscatorial 
purposes)  is  round  and  smooth,  clear  as  window-glass,  or 
as  the  limestone  spring.  The  milky-white  glaring  gut,  so 
often  met  with,  should  be  studiously  avoided.  No  fair 
means  will  take  out  the  white  glare  from  a  batch  of 
pearly  gut.  Boiling  dye  will  effect  the  purpose,  but  the 
strength  and  sterling  usefulness  of  the  stuff  will  have  so 
deteriorated  as  to  render  it  practically  worthless.  The 
opaque  silkworm  gut  is  naturally  found  to  be  inferior  in 
point  of  strength;  four  lengths  of  the  transparent  and 
clear  variety  are  found  to  be  equal  to  five  of  the  white 
and  brighter  kind  of  similar  thickness.  Spanish  gut  is 
superior  to  that  of  either  India  or  China.  The  most  dis- 
reputable is  the  Sicilian.  This  is  found  to  be  flat  and 
tender,  as  also  so  white  and  opaque  as  to  be  of  little  uj^l- 
ity.  The  Indian  variety  is  especially  noted  for  its  exces- 
sive length.  This  exceeds,  usually,  all  its  compeers.  The 
color  is  yellow,  even  when  prepared  and  uncoated.  No 
dying   will  permanently  alter  the   shade.     As  regards 

*  A  glass  float,  containing  phosphorus. 


BOTTOM   FISHING.  69 

strength,  it  ranks  below  the  Spanisi  and  China  gut. 
Good  round  and  sound  gut  should  stand  a  strain  of  from 
two  and  a  half  to  five  pounds,  according  to  the  thickness, 
without  parting.  Before  joinings  are  made,  the  ends 
should  be  moistened  between  the  lips,  so  as  to  admit  of 
its  bedding  down,  and  to  avoid  splittings;  otherwise,  dry 
old  gut  will  "  spilch,"  and  break  at  the  knots  when 
forming. 

When  gut  is  imported,  it  is  coated  with  a  thin,  brittle, 
yellow  skin,  which  is  easily  removed.  This  is  its  raw  or 
unbleached  state.  We  may  here  observe  that  often  too 
much  doctoring  is  practised  in  baking,  boiling,  bleaching, 
and  unbarkmg  the  raw  substance.  A  large  class  are  pre- 
judiced in  favor  of  what  they  term  a  beautiful  white  tint. 
This  taste,  unfortunately,  the  fish  do  not  share;  conse- 
quently, are  not  so  easily  to  be  duped  through  its 
medium. 

In  clear  water  the  gut  used  should  be  either  stained  a 
faint  sky-blue,  so  as  to  offer  no  lighter  or  darker  contrast 
to  its  back-ground,  or  be  left  a  transparent  tint,  undis- 
tinguishable  in  the  water.  Some  rivers  are  habitually 
clear,  others  slightly  this  or  that  shade.  The  view  of  the 
gut  line  should  in  each  individual  case  tally.  Our  ances- 
tors used  sorrel,  brown,  and  white,  or  eyen  black  hair; 
but  when  used  under  similar  circumstances  with  gut  pre- 
pared as  above,  the  tender,  hollow  hair  is  found  far  be- 
hind the  age.  We  have,  however,  dealt  already  fully 
with  the  relative  yirtues  of  gut  and  hair. 

Bottom  reels  are  made  of  almost  every  conceivable  va- 
riety and  substance.  We  are  inclined  to  give  preference 
to  the    Nottingham*    spring    check.     This    check    or 

*  The  Nottingham  reel  "Is  usually  made  of  wood,  and  in  two  pieces, 
the  barrel  of  the  reel  upon  which  the  line  is  wound  turning  upon  a 
spindle  fixed  in  the  center  of  the  portion  which  forms  the  immovable 
part  of  the  reel.  This  is  contrived  so  that  the  barrel  will  run  with  the 
utmost  freedom  at  the  lightest  touch."  The  above  description  is  given 
by  Francis  Francis,  Esq.,  Angling  Editor  of  "  The  London  Field." 


70  THE   SCIENTIFIC  ANGLER. 

"click"  action  is  put  on  at  will  by  a  movable  spring, 
something  after  the  style  of  the  old  spring  stop  reels.  In 
the  varying  methods  of  angling  now  followed,  a  tool  that 
can  be  regulated  to  any  degree  of  action  required  is  far 
preferable  to  a  set  contrivance,  admitting  of  no  alteration 
at  will.    These  winches*  are  now  made  with  steel  centers. 


CHAPTEE  VI. 


PIKE  FISHING. 


spinning, t  the  rod  and  line;  artificial  baits,  how  to  use 
them;  fishing  story;  live  bait  fishing;  fly  and 

'*FR0G"  fishing. 

The  greedy,  ferocious,  and  excessively  gluttonous  na- 
ture of  this,  *^*the  fell  tyrant  of  the  liquid  plain,"  has 
been  pointed  out  by  angling  authors  both  ancient  and 
modern.  We  shall,  therefore,  confine  ourselves  to  the 
most  approved  methods  now  in  use  for  its  capture.  These 
may  be  enumerated  thus,  viz. :  Spinning,  Live  Bait,  and 
Dead  Gorge  Fishing  or  Trollmg,  and  Fly  Fishing.  There 
is  scarcely  any  limit  to  the  expedients  adopted  for  killing 
pike;  frogs,  mice,  worms,   etc.,  in  fact,  bait   of  every 


*  "  Winch  "  and  "  reel  "  are  synonymous  terms  with  English  anglers. 
The  former  seems  to  be  applied  to  metal  reels  only,  and  the  latter  to 
wooden  ones,  or  more,  particularly  to  the  one  used  by  Nottingham 
fishermen,  which,  however,  is  occasionally  made  of  metal. 

t  "Spinning,"  as  described  in  this  chapter,  is  performed  by  casting 
the  bait,  natural  or  artificial,  on  the  rod,  from  the  banks  of  a  stream. 
The  English  method  of  doing  this  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  used  by 
the  striped-bass  casters  of  this  country,  which  is  known  as  the  Cutty- 
hunk  style.  The  rod,  however,  is  given  more  of  a  sweeping  movement, 
and  the  bait,  in  the  act  of  casting,  is  pendant  five  to  eight  feet  from  the 
rod-tip.    The  Thames  or  Trent  method  is  to  coil  the  line  at  the  feet  of 


PIKE   FISHING.  71 

conceivable  description  meets  with  due  appreciation  when 
these  fish  are  on  the  run;  toads,  it  would  appear,  are  the 
only  creatures  they  reject,  but  a  dab  of  yellow  paint  will 
make  even  these  presentable.  The  spinning  art,  when 
skillfully  practised  is,  beyond  all  dispute,  the  most  success- 
ful system  for  extracting  these  fish;  we  say  practised 
skillfully,  not  because  skill  is  actually  requisite  to  success, 
but  merely  to  point  out  the  difference  between  the  ancient 
and  rude  hand  trolling,  and  really  scientific  spinning, 
with  rightly  adapted  tools  and  tackle. 

Spinning  with  the  natural  bait  claims  the  precedence; 
it  is  practised  as  follows :  A  small  fish  (dace,  roach,  etc. ), 
of  three  or  four  ounces  is  taken  and  placed  upon  a  flight 
of  hooks  (the  method  of  arrangement  varying  according 
to  the  particular  nature  of  the  flight  used) ;  one  of  the 
most  simple  and  best  we  give  upon  plate  III.,  fig.  5. 
There  are  other  flights,  consisting  chiefly  of  a  number  of 
small  triangles,  the  use  of  which  we  cannot  commend. 
Accidents  are  far  too  rife  with  substantial  hooks  to  make 
it  worth  one's  while  to  risk  anything  by  the  insufficiency 
of  one's  appointments.  The  complicated  nature  of  most 
flights  renders  it  extremely  difficult  for  the  novice  to  bait 

the  caster,  or  wind  it  around  the  left  hand  as  described  on  a  previous 
page  of  the  text,  or,  "  by  gathering?  up  the  line  in  the  palm  of  the  hand 
by  an  up  and  down  motion,  somethinjj  like  that  of  a  weaver  with  a  shut- 
tle." The  Nottingham  style  of  casting  from  the  reel  is  identical  with 
that  in  use  by  the  float  fishermen  on  the  salt  water  bays  and  estuaries 
adjacent  to  the  city  of  New  York.  A  somewhat  similar  method,  barring 
the  use  of  the  rod,  may  also  be  seen  daily,  in  the  white  perch  season,  on 
the  Delaware  River  above  tide-water.  The  fishers  anchor  their  boat  at 
the  head  of  a  likely  "  swim  "  and  cast  their  hand-lines,  allowing  the  float 
to  drift  with  the  current,  sometimes  for  an  hundred  yards  or  more,  until 
the  action  of  the  float  indicates  the  presence  of  a  shoal  of  fish.  The 
fishermen,  then,  by  quietly  drawing  the  anchor  a  foot  or  so  from  the 
bottom,  allow  the  boat  to  drift  down  stream  and  then  softly  drop  the 
"killick,"  when  within  easy  fishing  distance  of  the  perch,  which  are 
gathered  in  great  herds,  as  it  were,  to  the  number  of  thousands.  We 
have  been  present  when  a  score  of  1300  perch  was  made  by  three  lines 
In  a  morning's  fishing. 


72  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AN"GLER. 

them  properly,  so  as  to  enable  them  to  describe  the  or- 
dinary revolutions.  In  this  tackle,  no  difficulty  of  this 
nature  is  encountered.  The  lip-hook  is  inserted  through 
the  upper  and  lower  lips  of  the  bait,  so  as  to  close  the 
mouth,  the  most  slender  hook  of  the  triangle  pierces  the 
side,  leaving  the  larger  span  of  hooks  unencumbered; 
lastly,  the  tail  of  the  bait  is  made  to  form  a  slight  curve 
by  inserting  the  end  hook,  so  as  to  cause  the  bait  to  swim 
in  a  wobbling  sort  of  way.  At  certain  times  this  motion 
proves  very  effective  in  alluring  the  quarry.  The  state- 
ments bearing  upon  this  point,  given  in  another  chapter 
(trout  spinning),  apply  with  equal  significance  to  pike 
spinning.  Pike  flights  may,  however,  be  used  perfectly 
straight,  as  by  the  use  of  a  small  F.  G.*  spinner  and 
swivel  combined,  which  can  be  placed  a  yard  or  so  above 
the  bait,  perfect  action  is  secured,  the  lure  revolving  well, 
and  in  a  direct  line,  a  great  desideratum  in  bait  spinning, 
especially  in  the  case  of  the  rapacious  pike,  as  he  is  even 
more  apt  than  other  species  to  miss  the  whirling  turn- 
tailed  bait. 

A  diagram  of  this  very  useful  metal  appendage  to  the 
midwater  fisher,  is  given  on  plate  III.,  fig.  4. 

The  rod  for  pike  is  now  made  little  more  than  one-half 
the  former  dimensions;  the  cumbersome  tool  of  from  fif- 
teen to  twenty  feet  is  being  discarded  in  favor  of  a  more 
efficient  implement  of  about  nine  or  ten  feet.  The  old 
swing  movement  for  getting  out  the  bait  is  quite  sur- 
passed by  what  may  be  termed  the  spring  motion;  the 
fisherman's  right  angle  is  reduced  by  this  change,  his 
general  style  and  comfort  vastly  improved,  and  success 
rendered  more  sure.  To  the  uninitiated,  the  idea  of 
reducing  the  rod  would  imply  a  corresponding  lessening 
of  the  power  of  the  rodster;  but  this  is  exactly  the  reverse 

*  For  the  "  Fishing  Gazette  "  spinner  (see  plate  III.),  an  examination 
of  which  will  explain  its  construction  more  lucidly  than  a  diffuse  de- 
scription. 


PIKE   FISHIN^G.  73 

of  the  actual  result,  for  instead  of  limiting  this  power 
over  general  surroundings,  it  largely  augments  it.  In 
the  first  instance,  his  casting  powers  are  greatly  increased, 
he  being  able  to  fish  a  much  larger  area  from  a  given 
standing  point,  the  precise  limits  varying  according  to 
the  amount  of  practical  skill  shown  by  the  operator. 
The  possible  limit  with  the  old  long  rods  was  forty  yards, 
or  thereabouts;  but  since  the  introduction  of  the  short 
ones,  the  cast  that  fails  to  exceed  sixty  yards  is  considered 
nothing  extraordinary.  Secondly,  the  angler  retains  far 
greater  command  over  the  bait  with  a  short  rod;  the  large 
size  of  the  upright  rings,  which  are  less  in  number,  offer 
comparatively  little  resistance  to  the  free  passage  of  the 
line,  thus  causing  the  bait  by  leverage  to  carry  out  pro- 
digious lengths  of  line,  which  would,  under  the  tradi- 
tional system,  have  been  considered  simply  impossible. 
The  style  of  using  these  modern  pike  rods  is  founded 
upon  the  fork  stick  principle  of  trolling;  the  weighted 
natural  or  heavy  artificial  is  attached  to  a  limp  though 
strong  plaited  silk  line,  which  is  usually  undressed,  being 
simply  waxed  to  take  out  "kinks"  and  "turns."  This 
is  mounted  upon  a  large  Nottingham  reel,  which  is 
arranged  to  run  freely. 

When  these  appliances  are  procured,  the  result  some- 
times exceeds  the  most  sanguine  anticipations.  The  very 
largest  fish  are  held  more  under  control,  and  are  much 
more  easily  landed  when  a  short  and  sturdy  rod  is  employ- 
ed; whilst  as  regards  wear,  our  readers  need  not  be  told 
that  the  more  timber  used,  and  the  more  lanky  the  im- 
plement is,  the  less  is  its  durability.* 

With  regard  to  the  artificial  baits  for  pike,  much  might 
be  said.  Their  variety  is  endless,  ranging  from  the 
clumsy-looking  spoon  to  the  gaudy  glass  bait.     Speaking 


*  Our  author's  ideas  of  troUinff  and  casting  rods  approacli  nearer  the 
American  standard,  than  those  of  anv  other  English  writer  on  angling. 
4 


74  THE   SCIEKTIFTC   AN^GLER. 

of  spoon  baits  reminds  us  tiiat  there  has  of  late  been  an 
improvement  of  importance  in  their  construction,  we 
refer  to  the  '' Colorado."  At  the  hollow  side  of  the 
dished  metal  is  placed  a  barrel-shaped  lead  upon  a  wire, 
around  Avhich  lead  and  wire  revolves  the  spoon  itself,  it 
having  a  pair  of  flanges  at  its  upper  or  narrow  end.  The 
conspicuous  triangle  fixed  at  the  extremity  is  partially 
hid  by  a  tag  or  tassel  of  vermilion  wool,  secured  by  flat 
silver  tinsel.  Its  action  when  in  the  water  is  really  ad- 
mirable, and  great  things  are  reported  as  having  been 
accomplished  since  its  comparatively  recent  introduction. 
We  never  did  believe  in  '^  spooning,"  but  since  the  inven- 
tion of  the  ^'  Colorado"*  our  sentiments  have  undergone 
somewhat  of  a  change.  For  the  capture  of  the  very 
heaviest  pike  in  river  or  lake  this  bait  is  particularly  well 
adapted.  Metal  casts  of  fry  mounted  in  various  ways  are 
now  to  be  obtained.  In  many  of  these  much  ingenuity 
is  displayed,  as  notably  in  the  different  makes  of  ^^  Greg- 
ory" baits,  some  of  which  spin  upon  their  own  axis; 
these  for  rotary  motion  are  perhaps  unequalled,  others 
being  jointed  and  thus  flexible,  while  others  again  are 
stationary,  relying  as  per  precedent  upon  the  upper  swivels 
for  freedom  in  spinning.  Many  of  the  above  are  colored 
with  a  view  to  the  effect  when  in  action.  Other  baits  are 
representations  of  some  distinct  species  of  fish,  as  gud- 
geon, dace,  etc.  These  are  for  the  most  part  constructed 
from  gutta-percha,  rubber,  etc.  They  are  often  much 
esteemed  v/hen  stationary;  they  may  please  the  human 
eye,  but  fail  to  meet  with  due  appreciation  from  the  fish 
when  in  action.  The  general  curved  shape  of  the  body 
acts  very  detrimentally  in  causing  the  line  to  describe  a 
spiral  or  corkscrew  flight,  which  is  calculated  to  miss  what 
fish  may  deign  to  essay  an  acquaintance.     The  ^'  Phan- 

*  The  spinning  baits  named  by  the  author  are  not  in  general  use  in 
America;  the  exceptions  being  the  "  Phantom  "  (the  Imbrie  improved), 
and  the  Devon  or  Angle. 


PIKE   FISHING.  75 

torn "  is  another  bait  not  well  adapted  for  rough  work, 
owing  to  its  liability  to  sustain  damage  from  the  keen 
teeth  of  the  pike. 

The  best  ^^artificials"  to  rely  upon,  when  '^naturals" 
run  short,  we  give  as  follows,  viz.,  the  *^ Gregory,"  ^ ^Clip- 
per," ^MVheeldon,"  *^  Windsor  Bee,"  and  ^^ Excelsior." 
Most  anglers  have  a  marked  partiality  for  heavy  brass 
gimp,  of  thrice  the  necessary  thickness.  Gimp  should  be 
no  thicker  or  stronger  than  is  absolutely  requisite,  and 
should  be  of  the  best  quality,  having  the  finest  raw  silk 
centre.  In  common  gimp,  which  is  disposed  of  by  the 
manufacturers  by  weight,  the  wire  is  much  too  thick,  the 
proportion  of  silk  being  less  accordingly.  It  is,  how- 
ever, made  very  fine  and  strong  indeed,  of  very  little  more 
substance  than  stout  lake  gut.  The  best  gimp  is  usually 
made  bright,  and  excessively  fine  in  wire.  Before  this  is 
used  it  should  be  slightly  stained  with  logwood  and  cop- 
peras, with  just  enough  of  the  latter  to  darken  the  dye. 
This  removes  the  glare,  and  effects  a  great  improvement. 
Having  advised  as  to  the  equipment  of  the  pike  spinners, 
we  shall  now  proceed  to  lay  down  a  few  directions  as  to 
the  most  artistic  and  successful  method  of  using  them 
that  commonly  followed  upon  the  Thames.  The  line 
should  not  be  worked  from  the  reel  nor  yet  from  the 
feet,*  as  commonly  practised,  but  from  the  left  hand, 
around  the  fourth  finger  and  thumb,  off  which  it  is 
wound  rapidly  crosswise.  The  motion  thus  conveyed  to 
the  bait  works  it  well  if  rightly  accomplished;  some 
anglers  simply  haul  in  the  line  by  instalments  into  the 
palm  of  the  hand,  but  this  is  anything  but  sportsman- 
like. The  bait  is  delivered  to  the  spot  desired  in  the 
following  manner: — Line  to  about  half  the  length  of  the 
rod  is  let  out  with  the  bait  ready  fixed  at  its  extremity, 
the  length  of  line  required  for  the  proposed  cast  being 

*  From  coils  on  the  ground. 


76  THE  SCIENTIFIC   AISTGLEE. 

first  wound  round  the  distended  thumb  and  finger  in  the 
manner  above  described;  this  done,  the  bait  must  be  put 
in  motion,  a  backward  and  forward  leverage  is  given 
which  should  be  rapidly  increased,  and  now  an  effective 
springing  jerk  of  the  rod,  just  as  the  bait  reaches  the  ex- 
treme backward  point,  sends  it  out  quickly,  taking  off 
the  line  from  the  disengaged  hand  in  its  flight.  The 
point  of  the  rod  must  be  held  so  as  to  admit  of  the  bait 
traveling  as  near  as  possible  in  midwater.  When  the 
rodster  experiences  a  tug  at  the  extremity  of  his  line  he 
should  strike  instantly,  but  firmly;  too  heavy  striking, 
it  must  be  remembered,  is  highly  dangerous;  it  imperils 
the  safety  of  the  tackle  as  well  as  the  fish.  A  clumsy  or 
too  impetuous  striker  will  frequently  break  av/ay  hooks 
and  trace,  or,  failing  that,  the  hold  of  the  hooks  from  the 
mouth  of  the  fish;  it  is  therefore  incumbent  upon  the 
tyro  to  exercise  a  little  judicious  care  and  calculation  in 
driving  home  his  steel  into  the  bony  jaws  of  the  fish. 
Practice  and  experience  are  the  mentors  upon  which  the 
young  aspirant  must  rely  for  proficiency  in  these  matters. 
Kare  sport  is  sometimes  afforded  by  well-conditioned  fish 
when  lightly  hooked  and  handled,  and  many  instances 
are  on  record  of  fierce  fights;  not  that  the  pike  is  noted 
for  gameness,  rather  the  reverse,  but  in  exceptional  cases 
when  an  extraordinary  fish  is  struck  great  sport  is  often 
affor;ded. 

The  largest  pike  we  ever  killed  was  taken  upon  a  stout 
salmon  spinning  trace,  the  flight  being  mounted  upon 
the  heaviest  gimp.  We  were  fishing  in  preserved  water  in 
a  neighboring  western  county,  and  had  hooked  a  pickerel 
a  few  odd  pounds  weight;  when  we  were  about  to  land 
the  fish,  the  gleaming  broadside  of  some  larger  relation 
of  the  family  shone  in  the  background,  an  instant, 
and  then  a  heavy  tug  demonstrated  the  fact  that  our 
possession  of  the  prey  was  disputed.  Comprehending 
the  situation,  we  let  out  line  with  the  earnest  hope  that 


PIKE   FTSHIKG.  77 

this  considerate  exhibition  of  feeling  would  meet  with 
due  appreciation;  nor  were  we  disappointed,  for  after  the 
lapse  of  a  few  minutes,  which,  under  the  circumstances 
it  must  be  admitted,  seemed  rather  long  ones,  the  fun 
began.  We  were  in  sole  possession  of  a  light  j)unt  upon 
an  extensive  sheet  of  water,  and  thus,  having  plenty  of 
sea  room,  we  were  rather  confident  as  to  the  result.  At 
the  first  gentle  touch  of  the  rod,  the  fish  ran  out  fully 
half-a-hundred  yards  of  line,  at  one  impetuous  rush,  des- 
pite the  heavy  strain  placed  upon  the  rod.  A  heavier 
reserve  was  now  put  on  the  remaining  portion  of  line 
through  the  medium  of  the  rod,  but  here  we  discovered 
our  command  over  him  to  be  considerably  less  than  we 
calculated,  for  such  was  the  determination  of  the  hooked 
fish  to  explore  the  other  side  of  the  lake,  that  the  punt 
began  to  move  in  chase.  To  reserve  the  remainder  of  our 
line  would  tend  to  aggravate  the  nuisance,  to  let  it  run 
meant  disaster.  Whilst  we  hesitated  we  unconsciously 
stopped  further  supply  of  line,  of  which  fact  we  were 
forcibly  reminded  by  the  rapid  motion  of  the  punt  as  it 
progressed  across  the  water.  Just  as  we  had  resolved  to 
break  away  from  the  fish  he  suddenly  doubled,  making 
straight  for  the  punt — we  hauled  in  the  loose  line  in  coils 
at  our  feet  as  actively  as  was  practicable  under  the  cir- 
cumstances— the  next  instant  he  dashed  off  with  renewed 
vigor  at  right  angles,  and  we  again  strained  heavily 
upon  every  foot  he  stole,  despite  which  our  whole  stock 
was  all  but  spent  before  he  again  turned.  For  more  than 
an  hour  was  this  operation  of  hauling  in  and  paying  out 
line  repeated  without  ceasing,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
the  final  tragic  end  seemed  as  remote  as  ever.  By  this 
time  several  stable  functionaries  from  the  adjoining  man- 
sion arrived  upon  the  scene,  among  whom  a  learned  con- 
troversy ensued  as  to  the  probable  weight  and  breed  of  a 
fish  capable  of  towing  a  man  and  a  boat  with  impunity. 
As  the  fish  swerved  along  shore  in  their  immediate  prox- 


78  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AN^GLER. 

imity  all  dispute  suddenly  dropped,  and  we  observed, 
what  had  previously  escaped  our  notice,  namely,  a  large 
stable  fork  in  the  possession  of  a  bandy- legged  individual 
who  had  stepped  forward,  fork  in  hand,  ready  for  action. 
Before  we  could  interfere  a  wild  thrust  was  made,  which, 
however,  fell  short  of  the  mark,  as  may  very  easily  be 
imagined  ;  nevertheless  it  well  nigh  ended  the  fight,  the 
terrified  fish  making  for  less  dangerous  quarters  at  a  rate 
that  eclipsed  all  previous  exploits,  the  pressure  upon  the 
line  availing  little  beyond  keeping  the  snout  of  the  fish 
above  the  water's  surface.  After  this  final  rush  a  reaction 
set  in,  the  fish  for  the  first  time  showing  signs  of  fatigue, 
which  speedily  developed  into  complete  exhaustion.  To 
consummate  the  capture  by  gaffing  and  boarding  was 
now  a  very  easy  matter,  and  successfully  accomplished. 
The  weight  of  the  fish  proved  to  be  thirty-seven  pounds 
and  three-quarters.  It  was  preserved  and  cased  by  the 
owner  of  the  water,  to  whom  it  was  presented,  with  the 
tail  of  the  pickerel  protruding  from  its  extended  jaw. 

Live  baiting  is  another  favorite  method  of  fishing  for 
pike.  The  tackle  requisite  for  this  style  of  angling  is 
shown  on  plate  II.,  fig.  6.  This  is  used  with  or  without 
the  barrel-lead.  As  the  name  implies,  the  bait  is  used 
alive,  the  small  hook  on  the  triangle  is  inserted  carefully 
in  the  root  of  the  back  fin,  th?^  large  span  of  hooks  being 
loose  at  the  side.  The  lure  is  then  allowed  to  roam  at 
will.  It  is  necessary  to  employ  none  but  the  finest  and 
best  stained  gimp.  The  reel  line,  too,  should  be  both 
fine  and  strong,  the  lighter  in  weight  the  better.  The 
line  usually  used  in  live-baiting  for  Thames  trout  is 
seldom  much  thicker  than  a  piece  of  ordinary  thread. 
The  requisite  substance  and  strength  vary  with  the 
weight  of  the  fish  the  line  is  intended  to  hold.  The  line 
referred  to  in  roach-fishing  would  answer  equally  well  for 
pike  of  sixteen  pounds  and  under,  as  it  would  for  Thames 
trout.     The  actual  dead-weight  sustaining  powers  range 


PIKE   FISHING.  79 

exactly  double,  when  the  substance  is  an  animated  body 
in  water ;  thus,  if  a  gut  line  will  just  raise  three  pounds 
from  the  dead  level  of  the  ground,  it  will  hold  a  fish  of 
six  pounds  in  water,  and  this  difference  is  still  greater 
when  a  pliable  rod  is  the  sustaining  medium.  It  is 
therefore  the  greatest  folly  to  employ  needlessly  powerful 
tackle  even  for  pike. 

We,  nevertheless,  advise  the  use  of  tackle  needful  for 
the  largest  fish  of  the  species  you  may  be  angling  for, 
that  are  known  to  be  present  in  the  length  fished.  To 
omit  so  doing  would  be  to  remove  all  prospects  of  landing 
a  good  fish  ;  but  exaggeration  is  rife  in  these  matters, 
and  the  popular  idea  is,  that  the  most  powerful  tackle  is 
essential  for  successful  pike-fishing,  of  whatever  nature 
it  may  be.  But  to  return,  the  movements  of  the  roving 
bait  must  be  carefully  observed  where  practicable ;  and 
if,  owing  to  the  state  of  the  water,  this  is  not  possible, 
the  rodster  must  follow  the  movements  of  the  bait  by  the 
feel  conveyed  by  the  line,  and  care  must  be  taken  not  to 
distress  the  bait,  or  it  will  soon  be  exhausted.  When  a 
fish  takes  the  bait,  a  minute  or  two  should  be  allowed 
him  to  gorge  it.  In  some  localities  the  custom  is  to  use 
a  single  gimp  hook,  which  is  attached  to  the  upper  lip  of 
the  bait ;  this,  however,  causes  it  to  move  in  an  unnatural 
way,  with  the  tail  uppermost,  and  cannot  be  said  to  equal 
the  method  previously  described. 

We  now  come  to  fly-fishing  for  pike.  That  these  fish 
would  take  a  natural  fly  is  even  less  probable  than  in  the 
case  of  salmon.  A  Jack  will  come  with  evident  gusto  at 
a  bird,  just  as  he  would  at  a  rat,  therefore  it  is  essential 
that  the  artificial  should  be  of  very  unusual  proportions. 
Discarded  salmon  flies,  of  large  size,  render  good  account 
amongst  pike;  a  regular  pike-fly,  generally  speaking,  is  a 
clumsy  combination  of  peacock  eye  or  sword  feathers, 
cock  pheasant's  hackles,  gaudy  Berlin  wool  or  worsted, 
gilt  or  silver  tinsel,  and  glass  beads;  the  peacock  doing 


80  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AN  GLEE. 

seryice  for  wings,  pheasant  for  legs,  beads  for  eyes,  and 
the  remainder  forming  the  body.* 

The  largest  fish  seem  most  partial  to  the  fly  ;  whether 
it  is  that  they  are  hunger-bitten,  or  whether  they  rise  in 
the  spirit  of  wantonness,  we  cannot  pretend  to  say. 
From  the  position  of  the  eyes,  situated  as  they  are  upon 
the  top  of  the  head,  he  naturally  sees  more  directly  above 
than  around.  In  the  northern  lakes,  pike  are  very  often 
taken  with  the  fly  wherever  they  abound,  whenever  they 
are  in  the  humour  for  rising,  for  like  all  other  species, 
they  have  their  off  and  on  terms,  even  when  in  season. 

In  a  work  devoted  solely  to  the  more  scientific  methods 
of  taking  fish,  it  may  appear  out  of  place  to  refer  to  what 
are  sometimes  deemed  repulsive  styles  or  systems.  We 
would,  however,  crave  the  forbearance  of  those  of  our 
readers  whose  sentiments  may  savor  of  these,  for  a  brief 
space,  as  we  cannot  omit  a  few  remarks  upon  frog-fishing 
for  pike,  which  is  held  in  such  high  repute  by  veteran 
pike-fishers.  The  style  most  in  vogue  is  to  work  the  frog 
as  a  live  bait;  the  hook,  which  should  be  of  special  length, 
strength,  and  size,  should  be  passed  through  the  bottom 
lip,  and  under  the  stomach,  the  bend  being  then  secured 
to  the  thigh  of  one  of  the  hind  legs  by  a  scrap  of  silk  of 
the  right  shade.  This  is  conveyed  through  an  opening 
in  the  foliage  on  the  banks  of  the  water,  a  few  odd  feet 
only  of  the  line  being  out.  When  through,  a  gentle 
swing  motion  is  described  by  the  line  and  the  lure,  a 
sudden  lurch  or  spring  being  given  when  at  some  dis- 
tance, to  reach  the  spot  desired;  the  line,  as  before  stated, 


*Mr.  W.  Thomson,  a  practical  angrier,  residing  in  Barrie,  Ont.,  in  a 
communication  to  "  Ttie  American  Angler,"  states,  that  upon  ob- 
Berving  a  flock  of  young  ducks  disappear,  one  by  one,  when  feeding 
along  the  edges  of  the  weeds,  and  suspicious  that  a  pike  was  the  cause, 
he  procured  a  bunch  of  greenish  yellow  Berlin  wool  and  fashioned  it 
into  the  rude  shape  of  a  duckling.  With  this  clumsy  lure,  he  soon 
landed  a  well-conditioned  pike  of  nearly  fourteen  pounds. 


Plate  2. 


FIG. I . 


IMPROVED     PATERNOSTER 


81 


PIKE  FISHIKG.  83 

being  wound  round  the  distended  thumb  and  finger. 
Another  plan  is  to  dape  and  sink  alternately  with  this 
bait,  which  is  also  very  deadly.  Artificial  frogs  are  now 
to  be  had  that  answer  the  purpose  almost  equally  with 
the  not  always  to  be  procured  living  ones.  The  legs  upon 
these  are  so  constructed  as  to  admit  of  life-like  action 
when  in  the  water. 


CHAPTEE   VII. 
SPINNING    FOR   TROUT. 

THE  THAMES  AND  TRENT  STYLE  ;  SPINNING  IN  DISCOLORED  AND 
CLEAR  WATER  ;  MINNOW  FLIGHTS,  HOW  TO  USE  THEM  ;  AR- 
TIFICIAL BAITS  ;  THE  ROD,   LINE,   REEL  ;  FLIGHT  CANS. 

If  it  is  important  to  know  the  haunts  of  the  trout 
when  fly-fishing,  it  is  doubly  so  when  trolling  or  spinning, 
as  then  no  circling  eddy  betrays  the  habitual  feeding 
grounds.  In  small  streams  and  rapid  brooks,  however, 
this  is  not  of  nearly  so  great  importance.  Large  fish  gen- 
erally locate  in  some  secluded  curl,  not  far  from  a  deep 
hole,  whither  they  return  upon  being  disturbed  or 
"knocked  off  the  feed."  The  best  and  most  likely  places 
upon  the  whole  river's  length  are  sure  to  be  tenanted  by 
the  largest  fish,  the  second  best  fish  are  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  and  take  up  the  position  of  the  extracted  heavier 
one.  When  large  trout  are  killed  upon  the  open  stream, 
it  is  a  sign  of  their  being  out  on  the  "forage,"  and  great 
execution  ought  then  to  be  effected.  There  are  quite  as 
many  grades  of  minnow-spinners  as  there  are  of  fly- 
fishers,  ranging  from  the  old  method  of  trawling  or  trol- 
ling with  heavy  primitive  tackle  in  discolored  water,  to 
the  scientific  Thames  and  Trent  style,  which  is  to  stand 


84  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

at  a  weir  or  waterfall,  and  dexterously  work  the  bait  in 
the  surging  boil  of  water,  near  and  far  away,  a  fifty  yards 
cast  being  deemed  nothing  at  all  wonderful ;  but  distance 
is  not  of  so  much  importance  as  is  a  thorough  command 
of  the  line,  which  should  be  gathered  by  the  disengaged 
left  hand,  so  that  no  slack  hangs  about  anywhere.  To 
acquire  the  art  of  casting  should  be  the  first  care  of  the 
rodster,  whether  he  aspires  to  bait  or  fly.  When  able  to 
pitch  the  bait  fifteen  or  twenty  yards,  and  from  wrist 
motion  to  gently  insert  into  water  in  a  way  that  will  not 
have  the  effect  of  disturbing  the  feeding  fish,  he  may  con- 
gratulate himself  on  having  acquired  the  leading  qualifi- 
cation requisite  to  become  an  adept  in  the  spinning  art. 

The  water  that  happens  to  be  nearest  the  rodster  should 
be  fished  first,  afterwards  the  centre  and  opposite  sides, 
and  lastly,  the  obscure  and  more  difficult  spots  to  reach. 
There  the  best  fish  are  to  be  taken.  The  parts  usually 
to  be  preferred  are  the  heads  and  tails  of  streams ;  the 
few  yards  of  turbulent  water  at  the  head  of  the  stream 
being  generally  the  most  productive. 

The  speed  at  which  the  bait  is  drawn  should  be  gradu- 
ated in  accordance  with  the  state  and  color  of  the  water. 
For  instance,  in  the  event  of  the  water  being  thick  and 
turbid,  a  much  slower  motion  should  be  given  to  the  bait, 
just  sufficient  to  spin  it,  in  fact.  The  bait,  whether 
natural  or  artificial,  should  work  freely  at  the  slightest 
pull  in  slow  running  water;  upon  the  other  hand,  in  the 
clearest  possible  water,  the  lure  should  be  brought  round 
at  a  moderately  steady  sweep,  not  with  a  jerking  motion. 
A  sudden  stoppage  in  clear  water  has  the  effect  rather  of 
alarming  than  appeasing  the  natural  suspicions  of  the 
acute  and  well-schooled  heavy  fish;  but,  in  highly  dis- 
colored water,  the  '* halting"  or  jerking  motion  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  enable  the  fish  both  to  see  and  seize 
the  bait.  Behind  a  projecting  rock  or  bank,  where  the 
water  is  comparatively  quiet,  no  matter  whether  shallow 


SPINITII!^G    FOR  TROUT.  85 

or  deep,  the  fish  congregate,  as  the  thick,  swollen  streams 
cannot  be  stemmed,  and  are  therefore  ayoided.  Here 
the  fish  fall  an  easy  prey  to  the  mid- water  or  minnow- 
fisher,  as  what  is  known  as  minnow  daping  or  dabbing 
(i.e.,  giving  the  bait  the  slow,  whirling  motion  of  a  sickly 
fish)  often  produces  exceptionally  heavy  takes,  even  when 
the  water  is  bank  full,  and,  figuratively  speaking,  as 
thick  as  a  "pea  soup."  But  this  method  of  extracting 
fish  at  an  undue  advantage  we  detest,  as  being  unsports- 
manlike in  the  extreme.  We  have  frequently  observed 
individuals  (we  do  not  say  fishermen)  upon  hooking  a 
fish  in  such  circumstances,  with  the  strongest  possible 
tackle,  literally  turn  tail  upon  the  water  by  shouldering 
the  rod  and  walking  away  until  the  hooked  fish  ' '  flaps  " 
high  and  dry  on  the  bank.  It  is  some  consolation,  how- 
ever, that  these  gentlemen  (?)  occasionally  catch  a  *' tar- 
tar" in  the  shape  of  a  hidden  stump,  root,  or  pile,  in 
which  case  the  diversion  is  pleasantly  varied  by  a  "flap"' 
or  snap  of  the  tackle,  and  total  loss  of  bait. 

We  do  not  encourage  minnow  fishing  in  temporarily 
discolored  water.  It  is  too  sure  a  way  for  real  sport.  Ab- 
solute certainty  in  the  pursuit  of  game  destroys  the  keen- 
ness, and  takes  off  the  edge,  so  to  speak, "of  one's  feeling 
of  enjoyment  when  supcess  is  in  no  way  dependent  upon 
personal  skill.  With  the  finest  tackle,  in  clear  water  and 
weather,  there  is  more  real  satisfaction  to  be  derived  from 
the  successful  capture  of  a  fine,  well-fed  fish  than  in  forty 
such  taken  by  unfair  means.  The  minnow-spinner,  in 
clear  and  rapid  streams,  should  always,  where  practicable, 
cast  up-stream,  bringing  the  bait  across  and  down  by  a 
judicious  working  of  the  rod  from  the  wrist.  As  a  rule, 
drawing  against  stream  should  be  avoided.  It  is  un- 
natural for  a  deformed  or  sickly  fish  to  attempt  any  feat 
of  the  kind;  and  not  only  this,  when  spinning  the  natural 
minnow  the  force  of  the  current  causes  the  bait  to  assume 
a  very  unnatural  attitude  in  the  water,  especially  when 


86  THE   SCIEKTIFIC   AIS^GLER. 

the  moYable  lip  hook  is  used;  thereforej  up-hill  spinning 
should  be  avoided.  The  angler  should  ever  remember 
that  the  secret  of  success  lies  mainly  in  the  motion  of  the 
spinning  bait.  The  theory  of  bait  spinning  is  founded 
upon  the  well-known  propensities  of  the  heavy  fish  for 
weakly  fry,  which  accounts  for  the  otherwise  unaccount- 
able fact  of  the  well  spun  bait  being  seized  from  the  very 
midst  of  a  shoal  of  living  minnows.  The  peculiar  forms 
of  many  substitutes  for  natural  minnows  act  detrimen- 
tally as  regards  hooking  fish.  Take  the  old  turn-tailed 
family  of  artificials  for  example.  Watch  the  peculiar 
motions  of  a  specimen  as  you  slowly  bring  it  through  the 
clear  water.  You  observe  that  it  describes  a  kind  of 
corkscrew  motion.  This,  especially  when  accomplished 
rapidly,  will  entice  fish  far  of  tener  than  it  will  hook  them; 
long  practice  dictates  that  nine  ^'^runs"  make  one  cap- 
ture, through  the  instrumentality  of  these  curved  or  turn- 
tailed  *  *  artificials. "  What  is  needed  is  a  perfectly  straight 
bait,  when  an  artificial  is  employed,  no  matter  whether 
the  spinning  propellers  or  Archimedean  flies  be  at  the 
head  or  the  tail.  So  far  as  this  is  concerned  it  will  then 
take  a  direct  ^'pigeon  "  flight  through  the  water,  moving 
an  equal  number  of  fish,  whilst  being  more  effective  in 
hooking  them.  In  natural  minnow-spinning  this  is  not 
of  so  much  importance,  the  fish  that  ^^goes"  for  the 
natural  bait  without  getting  hooked,  will  more  frequently 
come  again,  not  meeting  with  so  hard  a  substance.  The 
minnow  flight  we  have  found  prsferable  to  those  generally 
in  use,  we  give  on  plate  III.,  fig.  1.  The  minnow  is 
placed  upon  the  tackle  in  the  following  manner:  First, 
the  lead  is  inserted  in  the  mouth  of  the  fish,  the  lips  be- 
ing closed  by  the  movable  lip  hook.  This  done  the  bait 
is  pierced  through  from  the  one  side  to  the  other  with 
the  large  hook,  which  should  be  so  placed  as  to  keep  the 
lead  well  up  in  the  minnow's  back.  Lastly,  one  of  the 
pair  of  tail  hooks  should  be  made  to  slightly  curl  the  tail 


SPIN'N'IKG   FOR   TROUT.  87 

of  the  minnow.  When  this  arrangement  of  hooks  is 
correctly  inserted  the  bait  is  more  secure,  and  will  be 
found  to  last  longer  than  when  mounted  in  the  older  and 
general  style. 

The  most  objectionable  ** flights"  are  those  consisting 
of  a  number  of  small  hooks,  whether  triangular  or  other- 
wise; the  ease  with  which  they  are  broken  renders  them 
an  abomination  when  used  amongst  weighty  fish.  An- 
other arrangement,  which  is  also  very  good,  whilst  being 
very  simple  to  fit  up  for  use,  is  the  old  leaded  wire  tackle, 
which,  in  lieu  of  the  two  side  flanges,  is  fitted  with  a  tiny 
*' Fishing  Gazette"  spinner,  plate  III.,  fig.  3.  The  bait 
is  mounted  merely  by  thrusting  the  weighted  wire  down 
the  mouth,  the  position  being  rendered  secure  by  means 
of  the  side  hooks,  which  are  to  be  partly  hidden  in  the 
minnow.  For  strong  currents  this  tackle  is  well  adapted, 
its  action  in  the  water  being  perfectly  straight  and  nat- 
ural; for  more  open  streams  the  first  referred  to  is  recom- 
mended, as  being  all  that  can  be  reasonably  desired.  In 
most  waters  the  natural  minnow  is  preferable,  when  pro- 
curable. In  some  streams  the  skillfully  used  artificial 
will,  however,  not  only  turn  over  as  many  fish,  but  will 
kill  even  more  than  the  natural,  the  hooks  upon  it  hav- 
ing greater  play,  while  being  hid  in  a  measure  by  better 
spinning  action.  Amongst  the  many '^artificials "  now 
in  use,  we  may  mention  a  few  of  those  that  are  most  dis- 
tinguished for  deadly  qualities.  The  ''Devon"  or  "Totnes" 
(improved  pattern),  the  "Derby  Trout  Killer,"  the  "Uni- 
versal Killer, "  and  '  'Foster's  Excelsior. "  The  first  named 
is  an  old  reliable  bait,  originally  introduced  by  a  clever 
Devonshire  fisherman.  Improvements  have  lately  been 
made  in  its  construction,  which  renders  it  j^erhaps  one  of 
the  most  effective  baits  for  " all  round"  fishing  that  has 
hitherto  appeared.  The  bait  is  heavier  metalled,  German 
silver  being  substituted  for  the  plated  brass  formerly 
used.     The  side  flanges  are  larger  and  heavier,  which 


88  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

materially  increases  the  spinning  powers,  and  altogether 
the  changes  effecced  have  considerably  added  to  its  value, 
and  are  likely  to  enhance  still  more  its  already  extensive 
reputation.  The  *^^Derby  Trout  Killer"  was  introduced  in 
Derbyshire  about  the  same  period  as  the  ^^Totnes"  was  in 
Devon.  This  bait  is  more  especially  adapted  for  fine 
waters.  It  is  a  capital  bait  for  scientific  fishing,  as,  for 
instance,  in  the  middle  of  a  hot  day  in  July  or  August, 
when  the  flies,  to  avoid  the  sun's  rays  secrete  themselves 
in  the  shades  of  the  neighboring  foliage,  and  the  fish 
refuse  to  rise  in  consequence;  then  does  the  *^  Trout 
Killer  "  distinguish  himself  in  circumstances  when  spin- 
ning would  appear  the  most  unlikely  style  or  system  of 
fishing.  So  effective  is  this  bait  in  some  localities  that  it 
is  there  known  as  the  *^  Derby  kill-devil."  The  hooks 
and  bait  are  delicately  made,  the  better  to  adapt  them 
for  this  method  of  fishing.  The  finest  trace  and  swivel 
are  essential  to  success  in  these  circumstances. 

The  "Universal  Killer"  and  the  ''Excelsior"  are  both 
metal  baits  (the  latter  solid),  the  former  being  an  exceed- 
ingly ''natty"  little  thing,  well  suited  for  rough  and 
turbulent  brooklets,  the  tributaries  of  our  main  trouting 
streams.  The  spinning  power  is  placed  at  the  tail  of  this 
bait.  This  is  considered  an  especial  advantage  by  some 
anglers,  as  trout  frequently  "come"  at  the  head  of  the 
minnow. 

The  special  advantages  in  the  "  Excelsior"  are  the  extra 
weight — it  being  almost  double  that  of  any  bait  of  the 
same  size  and  dimensions — which  enables  the  tyro  to  spin 
and  cast  with  ease  and  success,  with  but  little  practice. 
■Its  durability  adapts  it  for  general  use  amongst  pike, 
perch,  chub,  trout,  or  salmon.  The  hooks  are  fixed  in 
the  bait  without  gut,  being  eyed  triangles  of  heavy  metal; 
the  nuisance  of  hooks  breaking  away  through  faulty  gut 
is  thus  obviated. 

Upon  the  choice  of  colors  much  depends,  as  trout  are 


SPIl^i^IlfG   FOE  TROUT.  89 

partial  to  a  change  in  this  respect.  Take  as  an  ilhistra- 
tion — upon  a  recent  occasion  having  been  requested  to 
test  the  kiUing  quahties  of  a  new  artificial,  we  had  re- 
paired to  a  famous  brooklet,  and  had  succeeded  in  creeling 
some  four  brace  of  good  fish  from  a  confined  length  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  yards,  which  was  the  extent  of  our 
permit.  All  further  dealings  Avere  ignored  after  this  be- 
mg  accomplished,  though  we  had  moved  many  more  fish 
than  we  had  taken.  Something  like  half  an  hour  elapsed 
without  our  turning  over  a  single  fin.  Upon  this  we  put 
another  bait  of  a  totally  different  shade,  when, in  action, 
upon  the  line,  and  commenced,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
next  twenty  mmutes  five  more  fish  were  landed,  when  the 
fish  again  turned  stupid;  but  upon  a  bright  metal  bait, 
without  coloring  matter  at  all,  being  presented  to  them, 
two  more  brace  were  taken.  Beyond  doubt  the  fish's  eye 
and  palate  are  tickled  by  a  change  occasionally. 

We  invariably  advocate  the  use  of  the  very  finest  possi- 
ble tackle  for  mid- water  fishing  in  low  and  clear  water. 
The  popular  belief  would  appear  to  be  strongly  in  favor 
of  the  reverse;  for  bait  spinning  under  all  circumstances, 
scarcely  anything  can  be  more  erroneous.  The  accom- 
plished scientific  troller  will  extract  fish  where  it  is 
usually  deemed  almost  an  impossibility.  And  when  an 
incredulous  bungler  fails  to  effect  a  single  capture,  and 
returns  troutless  and  dispirited  from  the  well-stocked 
stream,  fair  sport  will  often  accompany  the  rodster  who 
is  really  a  master  of  the  trolling  art. 

The  Rod,  to  be  suitable  for  spinning,  sliould  be  bamboo 
or  cane,  light  and  stiff,  and  from  twelve  to  fourteen  feet 
in  length  for  open  water;  but  for  small  streams  eleven  or 
twelve  feet  is  recommended  as  being  quite  long  enough. 
The  sixteen  and  eighteen  feet  double-handed  rods,  usually 
advocated,  are  now  deemed  much  too  cumbrous,  and  are 
rapidly  being  discarded.  The  greater  utility  of  a  single- 
handed  light  rod  has  long  been  obvious  to  a  large  class  of 


90  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

anglers,  and  its  admirers  are  yearly  extending.  East 
India  cane  is  the  best  adapted  for  rods  where  stiffness 
and  lightness  are  essential,  it  being  extremely  strong, 
though  reasonably  phable.  The  rod  we  use  ourselves  for 
this  style  of  angling  is  but  ten  feet  in  length,  the  rings, 
however,  are  large  and  stationary,  and  we  find  no  diffi- 
culty in  casting  to  eighty  or  ninety  feet  with  a  tool  of 
this  description.  The  rings  upon  spinning  rods  should 
all  be  upright  and  of  fair  size,  so  a3  to  admit  of  a  free  and 
unencumbered  passage  for  the  line  when  carried  out  by 
the  weight  of  the  bait  in  casting.  Where  the  fish  do  not 
run  large,  an  ordinary  fly-rod  answers  admirably  for 
spmning  purposes,  when  a  short  stiff  top-piece  is  substi- 
tuted for  the  slender  fly-top  joint,  the  only  drawback  be- 
ing the  minute  loose  rings,  which  hinder  the  free  passage 
of  the  line. 

The  Line  should  be  plaited  silk,  waterproof,  of  about 
one-half  the  usual  thickness  of  a  dressed  fly-line;  forty  or 
fifty  yards  are  required  for  any  water  more  open  than 
small  brooklets,  etc.  Nothing  is  so  trying  to  a  line  as 
bait  spinning;  and  if  it  is  desirable  to  keep  the  line  sound 
for  a  long  period,  it  should  never  be  worked  undressed 
and  unprotected,  or  a  very  short  time — when  constantly 
used — will  serve  to  rot  and  fray  it,  so  as  to  render  it  unfit 
for  use.  Twist  or  cable-laid  lines  are  also  of  little  utility, 
as  after  a  severe  trial  the  reel  frequently  resembles  a  ball 
of  loose  hemp  or  tow,  the  turn  or  twist  having  in  part 
been  taken  out  by  the  spinning  action  of  the  bait.  The 
new  acme  wire  lines  are  now  being  used  for  all-round  fish- 
ing, but  they  are  best  adapted  for  the  fly. 

The  Keel,  as  in  pike  fishing,  should  be  of  the  im- 
proved Nottingham  type.  Some  of  these  are  made  of 
metal,  some  of  wood;  the  best  of  the  latter  are  metal- 
bound,  these  are  greatly  to  be  preferred  to  the  original 
all-wood  patterns,  no  inconvenience  being  experienced 
from  the  wood  swelling.     The  free  action  of  these  Not- 


SPIi^KIi^G  EOR  TROUT.  91 

tingham  reels  is  their  great  recommendation — ^practice 
will  enable  the  angler  to  work  efficiently.  A  thorough 
command  of  both  rod,  reel,  and  line  is  necessary  to  com- 
fort in  fishing.  In  scientific  spinning  a  slight  touch  with 
the  fourth  finger  of  the  hand  holding  the  rod  is  sufficient 
to  regulate  the  supply  of  line  and  the  progress  of  the  bait. 
These  reels  are  now  made  with  a  check,  which  is  made  to 
act  at  the  will  of  the  rodster  by  the  action  of  a  small 
movable  spring.  Some  winches  are  made  of  ebonite  for 
spinning  purposes;  these  are  scarcely,  we  think,  so  desira- 
ble, as  they  are  apt  to  break  by  a  fall. 

Artificial  baits  may  be  safely  and  conveniently  carried 
in  a  small  partitioned  tin  case,  as  they  are  liable  to  be 
very  troublesome  if  carelessly  placed  in  the  over-crowded 
fly  book,  as  when  brushing  through  a  stile,  or  surmount- 
ing a  gate  or  other  obstacles,  the  fisher  may  perhaps  have 
a  personal  and  undeniably  practical  experience  of  the 
efficiency  of  his  own  steel,  which  will  have  anything  but 
a  soothing  effect  upon  the  feelings.  August  is  the  best 
month  in  the  whole  season  for  trout  spinning  in  the 
smaller  rivers  and  rapid  brooks,  and  the  novice  will  then 
do  well  to  stay  after  sunset,  and  fish  until  twilight. 


92  THE   SCIEmiFIC   AifGLEE. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
WORM  FISHING  FOR  TROUT. 


ANTIQUITY  OF  WORM  FISHING  ;    BUSH    FISHING  ;    TACKLE   REQUI- 
SITE ;   "TRAWLING"  FOR  TROUT;  SCIENTIFIC  WORM  FISHING. 

The  term  Worm  fishing,  to  many  minds,  conveys  rather 
an  obnoxious  impression,  anglers  being  as  a  class  rather 
apt  to  Ignore  Avhat  lias  for  ages  been  considered  the  most 
primitive  bait  for  the  simplest  and  most  ancient  method 
of  fishing.  As  a  lure  for  trout,  until  a  recent  period, 
the  worm  was  but  little  used.  We  shall  endeavour  to 
show  that  this  lure  may  be  artistically  and  scientifically 
worked  in  clear  and  rapid  trout  streams,  wherever  situate. 

Worm  fishing  in  discolored  water,  it  is  well  known, 
is  practicable  under  circumstances  when  other  experi- 
ments usually  fail.  Here  the  simplicity  of  the  system 
pursued  is  exemplary  of  the  art  as  practised  by  our  fore- 
fathers ;  a  cork  float,  leaded  line,  large  hook,  and  stout 
gut,  constituted  the  customary  rig-out.  In  swollen 
streams  fish  congregate  at  the  circulating  side  eddies, 
whether  in  or  out  of  the  usual  water-course.  Here  the 
fisherman  inserts  the  bait,  and  as  an  undue  advantage  is 
extended  to  the  rodster  by  the  thickened  state  of  the 
water,  the  largest  and  best  fish  by  no  means  unfrequently 
meet  with  an  untimely  end.  To  this  unsportsmanlike 
method  we  venture  to  assert  that  no  true  fisherman  will 
devote  himself.  Let  there  be  clear  water,  clear  weather, 
and  clear  scope  for  observation,  and  man  may  with  a 
clear  conscience  pit  his  superior  intelligence  against  the 
animal  instincts  of  the  brute  creation. 


WORM  riSHIl!^G   FOR  TROUT.  93 

Bush  fishing,*  in  some  localities  more  correctly  termed 
bush  fighting,  is  another  type  of  worming  for  trout. 
This,  as  the  appellation  implies,  is  the  plan  adopted  upon 
well-wooded  streams  or  brooks,  which  are  practically  in- 
accessible to  the  fly- fisher.  Here  the  angler  adroitly 
pitches  his  lure  in  every  likely  and  unlikely  looking  nook, 
behind  stones,  by  the  roots  of  overhanging  bushes,  under 
shelving  banks,  etc.  For  the  especial  behoof  of  the  nov- 
ice we  would  observe  that  great  caution  should  be  exer- 
cised against  uselessly  scaring  the  fish  from  their  custom- 
ary locations.  Indiscretion  in  this  respect  will  spoil  all 
chances  of  sport ;  therefore  every  interposmg  object,  as 
bushes,  etc.,  should  be  utilized,  and  the  rodster  should 
invariably  fish  up  stream,  as  by  that  means  not  only  will 
his  bait  act  as  herald  in  advance,  but  he  has  the  addi- 
tional advantage  of  being  able  to  take  note  carefully  of 
the  particular  position  tenanted  by  the  fish,  and  to  regu- 
late his  cast  accordingly.  For  bush  fishing  a  short  stiff 
rod  is  necessary,  or  it  will  be  found  next  to  impossible  to 
keep  the  fish  out  of  mischief  when  hooked.  It  is  essen- 
tially necessary  that  the  capture  should  be  consummated 
as  early  as  is  consistent  with  the  strength  of  the  tackle. 
Of  course  there  is  no  necessity  for  reviving  early  customs 
by  attempting  to  extract  one's  fish  in  the  earnest  style  of 
early  youth,  viz.,  at  a  strictly  perpendicular  angle.  On 
the  contrary,  a  Judicious  respite  may  be  granted  when 
circumstances  permit. 

The  angler  must  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  in 
clear  water  his  bait  is  very  much  more  distinct  on  its 
merits,  than  when  that  element  is  discolored.  It  behooves 
him,  therefore,  not  to  disturb  its  natural  progress,  which 
is  varied  by  the  ever  moving  waters.    Thus  if  the  lure  be 

*  This  paragraph  will  at  once  recall  to  the  reader  the  proverbial  coun- 
try bumpkin,  who,  with  his  clumsy  tackle  and  uncannie  ways,  always 
scores  more  fish  on  a  trout  stream  than  the  scientific  anf!:ler  with  his 
perfected  outfit.    The  boy  knows  the  holes  and  bushwhacks  the  fish. 


94  THE   SCIENTIFIC    AIs'GLER. 

gently  dropped  in  a  tiny  eddy,  its  circulating  motions 
are  not  to  be  hampered  and  foiled  by  the  line  creating  a 
ripple  and  disturbance  in  the  immediate  proximity  of  the 
fish  upon  the  look-out  for  food.  It  is  seldom  advisable 
to  cast  more  than  once  in  the  same  place  ;  when  neatly 
and  carefully  done,  the  bait  will  be  readily  seized  if 
at  all. 

The  tackle  requisite  for  worm  fishing  in  clear  water, 
differs  considerably  from  that  used  in  what  is  discolored, 
no  float  being  used,  and  except  in  rapid  torrents,  "sink- 
ers" of  any  description  are  not  necessary.  About  a 
yard-and-a-half  of  moderately  thick  gut  is  generally  em- 
ployed, at  the  extremity  of  which  is  placed  one  or  more 
Kendal  or  Carlisle  hooks,  (size,  six  in  single,  seven  or 
eight  if  double  or  treble).  These  should  be  attached  to 
the  gut  with  cerise  or  rose-colored  silk,  so  as  to  match 
the  bait  in  point  of  color.  The  hooks  should  be  white, 
to  prevent  them  from  shining  plainly  through  the  bait, 
which  latter  should  be  small,  lively,  and  of  good  color, 
no  matter  whether  it  be  a  brandling  or  cockspur,  or  even 
a  small  lob-worm,  so  long  as  it  is  lively  and  vigorous,  in- 
stead of  being  limp,  pale,  and  apparently  lifeless.  An 
excellent  way  of  making  really  durable  bottom  tackle  is 
to  whip  a  minute  scrap  of  roach,  or  any  other  fine  line, 
upon  the  bare  shank  of  the  end  hook,  so  as  to  form  a 
small  and  well-nigh  invisible  loop,  which  will  be  found 
of  great  utility  in  general  bottom  fishing.  The  very  finest 
gut  may  be  attached  by  means  of  a  slip  knot,  without 
even  a  chance  of  its  "knocking  off"  at  the  head,  as  is 
the  usual  result  of  a  small  amount  of  heavy  wear.  When 
baiting,  the  worm  should  be  carefully  threaded  up  the 
gut,  a  small  portion  of  each  extremity  of  the  bait  being 
left  free,  to  have  as  natural  an  effect  as  possible.  When- 
ever a  small  or  a  solitary  hook  is  employed,  the  rodster 
will  allow  a  moment's  breathing  time  ere  he  gently  strikes. 
By  this  means  it  is  more  than  probable  that  he  will  sue- 


WORM   FISHIKG   FOR  TROUT.  95 

ceed  in  obtaining  a  safe  anchorage  amongst  the  side  mus- 
cles of  the  fish's  mouth  ;  but  a  trio  of  hooks,  the  Stewart 
tackle,  for  instance,  requires  no  such  hesitation.  We  have 
frequently  known  young  anglers  miss  every  fish  they  have 
succeeded  in  moving  during  an  extremely  favorable 
period,  in  which  they  might  have  effected  much, 
had  they  displayed  a  moderate  amount  of  discretion  and 
aptness. 

Another  description  of  worm  fishing  in  rapid  waters, 
is  to  run  out  a  long  thm  line,  resembling  the  usual  blow- 
line,  in  substance  and  weight,  at  the  end  of  which  a 
couple  of  yards  of  fine  gut  is  attached,  having  a  worm 
tackle  fixed  at  its  extremity.  A  stand  is  then  made  by 
some  suitable  swim,  and  the  bait  is  allowed  to  travel  with 
the  stream.  The  line  should  be  kept  sufficiently  straight 
to  admit  of  a  fish  being  instantly  struck,  as  the  length  of 
line  usually  out  allows  amply  (sometimes  too  long)  for 
the  proper  seizure  of  the  bait.  This  is  a  fairly  good 
method  upon  tolerably  open  water.  The  chief  feature, 
indeed  we  may  say  the  secret  of  success  in  worm  fishing, 
in  clear  water,  is  keeping,  as  much  as  is  possible,  out  of 
sight.  When  the  attention  of  fish  is  attracted  by  surface 
food  they  are  scarcely  so  keen  as  to  the  movements  upon 
the  banks  and  sides  of  their  element;  but  when  not  pre- 
occupied in  this  way,  their  organs  of  sight  have  ample 
scope  and  leisure  for  their  full  exercise. 

And  now  we  come  to  the  more  scientific  style  of  using 
the  worm.  This  is  practised  more  particularly  in  the 
spring  and  early  summer  months.  The  bait  is  attached 
to  the  end  of  a  treble  extra-fine  fly  lash,  by  means  of  a 
worm  tackle  of  three-hook  power,  when  it  is  thrown  as  a 
fly,  and  worked  upon  the  *'cast  and  draw"  system  of  fly 
fishing,  with  this  difference,  the  bait  is  allowed  to  sink  a 
few  inches  after  each  delivery  upon  the  water.  By  this 
means,  fish  of  the  heaviest  calibre  are  often  taken.  The 
produce  of  a  single  rod,  when  wielded  by  an  adept,  will 


96  THE  SCIEN-TIFIC   ANGLER. 

often  exceed  the  joint  takes  of  several  orthodox  fly  fishers, 
more  especially  if  the  said  rod  be  assiduously  vvorked  in 
early  morn,  during  the  first  few  hours  of  daylight,  just 
as  the  fish  commence  to  move  playfully,  as  though  de- 
monstrating pleasure  at  the  advent  of  yet  another  day. 
Whenever  the  attention  of  the  fish  is  absorbed  by  surface 
food,  it  is  not  advisable  to  fish  with  the  worm  after  any 
method,  modern  or  ancient ;  but  when  flies  are  scarce, 
and  the  fish  are  eagerly  upon  the  look  out  for  what  the 
stream  may  produce  in  the  shape  of  mid-water  food,  or 
before  the  day's  first  instalments  of  winged  insects  put  in 
an  appearance,  the  worm  will  do  great  execution.  This 
bait  IS  inseparably  connected  with  angling  by  all  non- 
practitioners  of  the  art,  but  it  has  been  as  much  ignored 
in  these  fast-going  times  as  it  was  adored  by  our  ancestors. 
It  will  admit  of  the  fly  fisher  for  trout  pursuing  his  sport 
in  the  teeth  of  circumstances  adverse  to  the  more  legiti- 
mate modes  of  angling. 

The  ordinary  fly-rod  and  line  are  employed,  we  had 
forgotten  to  observe,  in  conjunction  with  the  fly  cast. 
The  most  favorable  spots  to  fish  are  in  the  surging  waters 
of  rivers  and  tiny  cascades.  A  mountain  trout  stream, 
in  which  are  combined  a  continuous  and  natural  succes- 
sion of  turbulent  rapids  and  pellucid  pools  in  miniature, 
affords  the  very  acme  of  perfection  for  the  practice  of 
this  particular  method  of  angling.  Owing  to  the  small- 
ness  of  the  (Kendal)  hooks  used  (No,  10  being  the  size 
necessary),  a  small  split  shot  should  be  attached  half-a- 
yard  or  so  from  the  bait,  to  give  proper  momentum  in 
the  boil  of  broken  waters.  The  lure  should  be  drawn 
briskly  through  even  here,  the  strike  of  a  fish  being  de- 
tected instanter  in  these  circumstances  by  the  feel,  as  in 
the  various  other  styles  of  trouting  in  clear  waters  with 
the  worm.  As  the  use  of  living  bait  is  not  infrequently 
objected  to  on  the  ground  of  cruelty,  we  may  state  that 
even  worms  have  of  late  been  added  to  the  immense  cate- 


GRTJB  FISHING   FOK   GRAYLII^G.  97 

gory  of  effectual  "artificials,"  the  identical  rendering 
referred  to  having  been  found  to  answer  in  the  last 
method  of  ''worming"  described.  The  artificial  here 
alluded  to  is  constructed  in  part  from  India  rubber. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 


GRUB  FISHING  FOR  GRAYLING  * 

GRUB  BAITS  FOR  GRAYLING;  METHODS  OF  USING;  ANGLING    REMI- 
NISCENCE; CAMPING  OUT;  MAGGOT  FISHING. 

This  method  of  grayling  fishmg  has  now  become  so 
general,  that  the  omission  of  a  reference  to  it  would 
render  incomplete  a  work  dealing  with  this  fish.  The 
baits  now  commonly  used  consist  of  the  green  (garden) 
caterpillar,  and  its  artificial,  which  for  some  unaccount- 
able reason  is  designated  the  grasshopper;  gentles,  wasp 
grubs,  caddis-bait,  and  the  larvae  of  ail  the  large  water- 
flies  found  in  their  sheaths  in  the  beds  of  streams;  as  also 
fresh-water  shrimps,  and  other  aquatic  creatures.  Of 
the  larger  of  these  grub-like  forms,  there  are  admirable 
artificial  renderings  to  be  had;  which,  when  used  as  in 
the  case  of  the  green  caterpillar,  or  grasshopper  above 
alluded  to,  with  a  couple  of  gentles  upon  the  somewhat 
large  hook,  answer  wondrously  well,  and  are  often  pre- 
ferred to  smaller  naturals,  owing  to  the  sinking  medium 
being  laid  in  the  centre,  instead  of  having  it  in  the  shape 
of  shot,  sheet-lead,  or  wire,  outside  and  in  view.     The 

*  The  habitat  of  the  American  grayling  is  so  limited,  that  but  few  of 
our  anglers  have  an  opportunity  to  fish  for  them.    The  chapter  is  given, 
more  as  an  illustration  of  English  methods  than  for  its  practical  value 
to  our  native  rodsters. 
5 


98  THE   SCIEIS'TIFIC   ANGLER. 

system  in  vogue  of  using  these  large  artificial  lures  is  to 
attach  them,  tipped  with  gentles  or  wasp  grubs,  to  the 
thicker  half  of  a  three  yards  fly-cast,  and  throw  out  upon 
either  deep  or  shallow  scours,  frequented  by  the  grayling, 
according  to  the  time  of  year.  The  bait  must  be  raised 
and  dropped  rapidly  and  continually,  after  bemg  duly 
delivered  in  the  required  places,  which  should  be  the 
known  haunts  of  these  fish.  The  line  should  not  be 
raised  more  than  some  four  or  five  inches  from  the  bot- 
tom, as  the  grayling,  like  barbel,  are  given  to  grope  for 
food  of  the  description  reproduced  in  the  copy.  In  some 
parts  a  small  quill  float  is  used,  being  attached  with  a 
wire  loop  at  each  extremity,  in  lieu  of  the  ordinary  run- 
ner. By  this  arrangement  a  certain  amount  of  freedom 
is  allowed  to  the  line,  which  admits  of  its  sliding  at 
various  depths  from  the  surface,  whilst  the  bait  has  a 
roving  commission.  For  our  own  part,  we  have  always 
managed  to  use  the  bait  comfortably  without  the  aid  of 
one  of  these  articles.  The  use  of  a  float  in  clear  water, 
whilst  fishing  for  so  keen-eyed  a  fish  as  the  grayling,  is 
anything  but  artistic  or  sportsmanlike.  When  fish  are 
repeatedly  missed,  it  is  advisable  to  secure  a  small  brown 
twig  to  the  line  by  wire,  in  the  same  way  as  the  sliding 
float  is  arranged,  as  this  will  not,  especially  upon  densely 
wood-lined  streams,  act  detrimentally  as  regards  sport. 
The  originator  of  the  artificial  grub  system  of  grayling- 
fishing  (Hewett  Wheatley)  we  are  aware,  counselled  the 
use  of  a  float,  but  since  the  appearance  of  his  "  Rod  and 
Line,"  the  fish  have  become  so  much  more  suspicious 
and  wary,  that  not  even  a  senior  angler  can,  with  impu- 
nity, transgress  accepted  rules  without  paying  the  pen- 
alty in  net  results.  When  the  combination  of  artificial 
and  natural  lures  is  artistically  v/orked  by  an  adept,  the 
slaughter  amongst  the  heavy  fish,  which  seldom  or  never 
rise,  is  immense.  Although  grayling  are  very  partial  to 
small  baits,  having  a  small  mouth,  they  absorb  a  bunch 


GRUB   FISHING   FOR   GRAYLING.  99 

of  hooked  threaded  gentles,  etc.,  with  as  much  avidity 
as  an  eel  will  worsted  threaded  worms.  The  best  time 
for  grub-fishing  for  grayling  is  from  September  to  Feb- 
uary,  and  tlie  most  severe  weather  is  often  the  best  for 
sport. 

One  of  the  brightest  angling  remembrances  our  mem- 
ory retains,  was  an  excursion  after  the  grayling-time  of 
year,  in  December — Christmas-eve,  in  fact — water  and 
locality,  the  Derbyshire  Wye,  near  Ambergate.  Our 
party  consisted  of  three  rods;  the  morning  was  frosty, 
dry,  and  clear,  the  air  deliciously  pure  and  exhilarating, 
and  the  usually  yielding  turf  was  sufficiently  hard  to 
considerably  increase  our  powers  of  locomotion.  In  the 
midst  of  the  whitened  landscape,  the  river  flowed  as 
tranquilly  as  on  a  long  summer's  day.  We  had  arrived, 
fitted  out  for  grub  and  hopper  fishing;  and  with  a  favor- 
able prospect  of  sport  we  set  to  work.  The  fish  proved 
in  excellent  condition,  and  in  feeding  humor,  and  our 
humor  was,  therefore,  speedily  excellent,  notwithstand- 
ing several  losses  of  unusually  heavy  or  subtle  quarry. 
The  *' permit"  being  well-nigh  boundless,  we  wandered 
far  away  from  our  startmg  point,  and  by  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon  had  left  our  quarters  and  luncheon  miles 
behind,  and  when  we  assembled  for  a  smoke  and  a  chat, 
each  creel  was  found  to  be  quite  respectably  weighted. 
The  fish,  as  is  rarely  the  case  when  the  water  is  below  a 
certain  temperature,  had  continued  to  feed  throughout 
the  fore  and  afternoon,  and  as  there  had  as  yet  been  no 
indication  of  their  "knocking"  off,  we  resumed  our 
diversion,  and  before  long  had  filled  our  panniers. 

As  the  winter's  sun  had  long  sunk  to  rest,  we  began  to 
think  of  retracing  our  steps;  but  before  having  described 
a  third  of  the  distance  that  lay  before  us,  one  of  the 
party,  who  was,  by-the-way,  a  bit  of  an  invalid,  suddenly 
discovered  himself  to  be  remarkably  hungry.  The  third 
rodster,  being  an  American  tourist,  took  upon  himself 


100  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AJfGLEE. 

the  commissariat  office.  No  human  habitation  appeared 
within  reasonable  distance,  and  how  our  weakly  friend's 
languishing  could  be  immediately  satiated  seemed  a  mys- 
tery. We  were  not  long,  however,  to  be  left  to  speculate 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  expedient  to  be  adopted.  Upon 
the  clear,  hard  turf,  under  the  spreading,  though  now 
stark  branches  of  an  ancient  oak,  the  wood  severed  by 
the  violence  of  the  late  storms  was  arranged  and  ignited 
by  pipe-lights;  some  of  the  choice  medium-sized  fish 
were  split  and  cleaned  in  the  silvery  stream,  so  shortly  be- 
fore their  home,  spitted  upon  a  two-pronged  sapling,  and, 
in  the  glowing  embers,  were  quickly  done  to  a  turn.  The 
relish  with  which  they  were  eaten  was  significant;  the 
beautiful  aroma  imparted  to  the  delicate  fare  by  the 
oaken  embers,  was  simply  delicious.  Like  the  majority 
of  anglers  we  seldom  care  for  our  takes,  after  having  had 
the  pleasure  of  extracting  them;  but  we  venture  to  assert 
that  the  most  fastidious  palate  would,  in  similar  circum- 
stances, have  found  their  quarry,  so  primitively  yet  so 
skilfully  prepared,  irresistible.  Were  we  to  state  the 
precise  quantity  of  fish  so  cooked  and  disposed  of  by  the 
aid  of  pocket-knives  upon  that  ever  memorable  Christ- 
mas-eve, we  should  scarce  look  for  full  credit  for  the 
statement.  Let  it  suffice,  that  the  intervening  miles 
rapidly  disappeared  under  our  re-invigorated  footsteps, 
through  the  picturesque  moonlit  Wye  Valley,  enlivened 
by  the  beautiful  stream,  and  we  arrived  early  at  our  com- 
fortable quarters,  and  in  a  state  of  mind  and  body,  which 
made  the  pillow  an  elysium  of  repose. 

Maggot  and  wasp  grubs  are  often  used  by  bottom  fish- 
ers for  grayling,  in  a  style  somewhat  similar  to  that 
adopted  in  worm-fishing  for  coarse  fish  ;  a  quill  float 
and  very  fine  hook  and  tackle  being,  of  course,  substi- 
tuted. Skillful  roach-fishers  are  proficients  at  grayling- 
fishing  with  these  appliances,  though  the  fish  are  more 
frequently  lost  than  when  roach  is  the  quarry.     Ground 


PISCATOKIAL   Ei^TOMOLOGY.  101 

baiting  prevails  as  a  system,  but  is  most  certainly  un- 
necessary, as,  by  an  observant  angler,  the  penodical 
haunts  of  these  gregarious  fish  are  easily  discovered.  A 
few  hand  sprinklings  of  gentles,  etc.,  cast  around  the 
baited  hook  answers  as  efficiently  as  whole  quarts  of  the 
same  indiscreetly  planted;  indeed,  these  fish  speedily  be- 
come satiated,  and  the  use  of  ground-bait  is  often  highly 
detrimental  to  subsequent  sport. 


CHAPTER  X. 


PISCATORIAL  ENTOMOLOGY.* 

To  be  a  moderately  successful  wielder  of  the  rod  may 
be  looked  upon  as  a  very  desirable  accomplishment,  nay, 
more,  a  laudable  ambition;  but  beyond  mere  skill  in 
casting  a  fly,  and  killing  and  landing  a  fish,  a  little 
rudimentary  knowledge  of  the  truly  scientific,  and,  con- 
sequently, most  attractive  part  of  the  art,  is  essential,  in 
order  to  attain  proficiency. 

There  are  hundreds  of  tolerably  good  anglers  who  are 
such  indifferent  entomologists  as  to  be  unable  to  discern 

*  The  entomology  of  American  fly-fishino:  is  yet  to  be  written.  Miss 
McBride,  some  years  ao:o,  contributed  a  few  pleasing  and  instructive 
articles  to  a  weekly  Journal  on  this  subject,  and  so  far  as  my  knowledge 
extends,  her  attempt  was  the  last  one  made  by  an  American  writer;  but, 
as  more  than  two  hundred  years  elapsed  from  the  time  of  Walton  to  the 
date  of  Roland's  work  on  English  piscatorial  entomology,  our  angling 
authors  may  be  pardoned,  if  a  decade  or  two  elapses  in  the  production 
of  an  American  text  book  on  this  fascinating  subject.  The  notes  of  the 
author  are  extremely  interesting  and  instructive,  and,  although  much  of 
the  text  is  inapplicable  to  the  needs  of  our  native  anglers,  I  give  the 
entire  chapter  on  account  of  the  practical  presentation  of  the  subject 
matter. 


102  THE   SCIEi^TIFIC   ANGLER. 

the  difference  between  one  species  of  common  insect  and 
well-known  fly  and  another;  and,  lacking  this  rudi- 
mental  knowledge  of  the  insect  world,  are  apt  to  credit 
the  fish  with  no  greater  powers  of  discernment  than 
themselves — a  great  injustice  to  the  natural  instincts  of 
the  denizens  of  the  streams.  Such  delusions  are  pro- 
pounded by  fourth-rate  followers  of  every  branch  of  the 
arts  and  sciences.  That  educated  English  trout  can  and 
do  distinguish  the  most  trivial  difference  in  both  atti- 
tude, size,  and  color,  is  a  truism  well-known  and  readily 
acknowledged  by  all  fishermen  of  experience.*  The  com- 
plicated and  ever-extending  fly  list  of  the  leading  author- 
ities on  fly-fishing  tends  rather  to  confuse  and  bewilder 
than  to  enlighten  the  youthful  aspirant,  leading  him 
frequently  to  ignore  the  whole  as  unnecessary  and  super- 
fluous. 

In  giving  the  following  hints  on  entomology  as  appli- 
cable to  fly-fishing,  our  aim  is  to  sketch  briefly  and  in- 
telligibly the  ordinary  **  standards,"  which  are  sufficiently 
numerous,  generally  speaking,  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  fish  when  they  put  in  an  appearance.  The  numerical 
strength  of  the  flies  out  at  one  time  may  be  said  invari- 
ably to  determine  the  ardor  with  which  the  fish  feed. 
Thus,  when  the  May-fly  or  March  Brown  are  but  scan- 
tily *^on,"  the  Iron  Blue  Dun  or  Black  Gnat,  if  preval- 
ent, will  kill  infinitely  better,  simply  because  the  whole 
attention  of  the  fish  for  the  time  being  is  centered  upon 
them,  owing  to  their  greater  abundance. 

The  flies  that  form  food  for  fish  may  be  divided  into 
two  classes,  viz.,  the  Up-winged  (Ephemeridm)  and  Flat- 
winged  {PhryganeidcB,  lIuscidcB,  etc.)  Of  the  latter  there 
are  many  varieties,  part  being  of  the  water,  as  are  the 
whole  of  the  first  order,  the  EphemeridcB  family.  These 
water  flies  are  of  the  greatest  use  to  the  angler,  as  they 


■*  This  is  an  open  question  as  to  American  trout. 


PISCATORIAL  ENTOMOLOGY.  103 

rise  to  the  surface  only  to  fulfill  their  natural  functions, 
living  but  a  few  days,  and  ever  delighting  to  sport  on  or 
near  their  native  element.  Not  so  the  land  flies.  They 
do  not  habitually  frequent  the  water,  being  seldom  seen 
upon  it,  excepting  when  swept  there  by  the  force  of  the 
wind;  hence  it  follows  that  they  are  rarely  sufficiently 
numerous  except  upon  cold  and  windy  days,  or  after  a 
boisterous  storm. 

In  taking,  first,  the  most  important  order  of  naturals 
(the  Epliemeridce  family),  we  deal  with  what  has  hitherto 
been  made  a  most  intricate  and  formidable  list  of  in- 
sects, modern  naturalists  dividing  and  sub-dividing  into 
sections  and  sub-sections  until  the  poet  Pope's  "thou- 
sands of  winged  insects  "  threaten  to  descend  from  the 
ideal  into  stern  reality.  Personal  observations,  extend- 
ing over  a  period  of  fifty  years,  lead  us  to  affirm  the 
greater  part  of  this  extensive  classification  to  be  perfectly 
needless.  There  are,  in  fact,  but  four  different  species 
of  Up-winged  insects,  these  forming  the  Ephemeridm 
family.  The  prevailing  temperature  of  the  atmosphere 
and  the  watar  at  the  time  of  the  larva  and  pupa  arriving 
at  the  stage  of  maturity,  is  largely  instrumental  in  in- 
fluencing the  color,  the  body  of  the  insect  particularly 
being  susceptible  to  change  from  these  effects. 

The  four  species  here  referred  to  are  the  ordinary 
Olive  and  Iron  Blue  Duns,  the  Large  Browns,  and  the 
May-fly  or  Green  Drake.* 

The  Olive  Dun  makes  its  first  appearance  in  February, 
when  it  is  known  as  the  Blue  Dun,  or  February  Flapper. 
It  then  presents  a  dead-lead  color,  the  inclement  weather 
then  seasonable  causing  the  fly  to  assume  so  sombre  a 
hue.  A  few  weeks  later,  if  the  weather  be  more  genial, 
it  is  a  shade  lighter  upon  the  body,  when  it  is  styled  the 


*  These  flies  are  also  made  in  the  United  States,  and  used  on  some 
of  our  native  waters. 


104  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

Cock-winged  Dun.  By  the  beginning  of  April  it  is  of  a 
genial  olive  color,  with  yellow-ribbed  body,  upon  which 
rests  a  bloom,  like  that  of  a  ripe  muscat  grape,  but  upon 
dull  days  a  rust-like  fungus  is  substituted  for  this,  which 
gives  a  ruddy  appearance  to  the  whole  body  at  first  sight. 
It  is  then  known  as  the  Yellow  Dun  of  April,  light  and 
dark.  In  April,  in  the  cold  water  near  the  springs  or 
sources  of  streams,  more  especially  in  limestone  districts, 
the  fly  appears  of  a  light  blue  tint.  This  is  designated 
the  Pale  Blue  Dun.  A  few  weeks  later  again,  and  the 
Blue  Dun  of  February  appears  as  the  Yellow  Dun  of 
May,  and  in  ungenial  weather,  as  the  Hare's  Ear  Dun. 
This,  like  most  of  these  multifarious  appellations,  takes 
its  name  from  a  part  of  the  material  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  artificial,  the  former  being  a  light  and 
delicate  olive,  the  latter  several  shades  darker. 

The  "Yellow  Dun  of  May"  continues  plentiful 
through  June  on  hot  days,  the  action  of  the  sun  rendering 
it  lighter  on  the  body.  In  July  it  is  designated  the  Pale 
Evening  AVhite,  it  being  as  white  as  a  new  shilling.  The 
nymph^e  locating  in  shallow  open  water,  where  the  sun's 
rays  penetrate  during  the  hot  months,  the  fly  appears 
excessively  light  and  delicate.  In  June,  unseasonable 
weather  causes  the  body  of  the  dun  to  assume  a  dirty 
yellow  tinge,  and  it  is  then  known  as  the  Common  Yel- 
low Dun.  It  acquires  a  more  pronounced  yellow  a  little 
later,  when  the  fly  is  termed  the  Golden  Dun,  being  more 
partial  to  fine  weather.  There  are  still  two  other  shades 
before  the  gradual  tints  of  this  interesting  fly  terminate, 
and  a  comprehensive  glance  may  be  given  of  them  in  the 
order  of  rotation  as  the  season  progresses. 

The  nympha  of  the  Pale  Evening  Dun  rises  from  deep 
still  water,  the  color  very  much  resembling  the  common 
yellow  shade  of  June.  This,  m  common  with  all  water 
flies,  gradually  assumes  a  lighter  shade,  even  when  ex- 
posed to  the  sun's  rays  for  only  an  hour.     Dull  or  inclem- 


PISCATORIAL  EN^TOMOLOGY.  105 

ent  weather  in  July  produces  the  July  Dun,  in  which 
the  old  and  more  general  olive  shade  is  again  visible, 
commingling  with  pale  yellow.  And  now,  with  the  de- 
clining months,  the  fish  and  fishermen  are  treated  to  a 
repetition  of  the  various  shades  of  the  spring,  though 
graduating  in  the  contrary  direction,  i.  e,,  growing 
darker  as  the  months  pass,  instead  of  lighter.  Thus,  in 
August  we  have  the  exact  shades  of  May,  and  in  Sep- 
tember those  of  April — the  state  of  the  weather  and  the 
water  being  similar  to  that  in  the  corresponding  earlier 
months  of  the  year — until  we  again  arrive  at  the  Dull 
Blue  Dun  of  February  in  November. 

The  whole  of  the  foregoing  are  the  natural  progeny  of 
the  common  red  spinner.  All  the  Duns,  therefore,  that 
live  to  maturity  become  spinners;  they  are,  in  conse- 
quence, very  numerous.  In  the  warmer  months  this  fly 
becomes  lighter  in  shade,  assuming  a  golden  tint  on  the 
body,  when  it  is  designated  the  Golden,  instead  of  the 
Eed  Spinner.*  The  limited  period  usually  devoted  to 
the  study  of  the  native  water  flies,  which  are  designed 
■for  the  sustenance  of  non-migratory  fish,  both  upon  the 
surface  and  in  the  bed  of  the  rivers,  has  led  to  erroneous 
and  inaccurate  inferences.  During  an  unusually  back- 
ward and  dull  season  one  particular  shade  of  fly  will  be 
numerous,  often  for  many  weeks,  and  occasionally  even 
months ;  and  as  no  two  or  three  successive  years  are 
likely  to  be  identical  in  this  respect,  it  is  essential  that 
observations  be  assiduously  carried  on  over  an  extended 
period,  or  misconceptions  will  be  the  inevitable  result. 
Insects  have  been  described  in  their  first  or  imperfect 
stage  minutely,  whilst  the  greater  part  of  their  existence 
as  flies  and  perfect  insects  has  been  ignored  altogether. 
Other  species  have  been  honored  by  a  notice  in  their 
decrepit  old  age,  when  they  are  described  as  beings  of  a 


*The  Red  Spinner  is  a  favorite  fly  on  some  of  our  waters. 


106  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AIS^GLER. 

day  or  hour.  This  inconsistency  is  mainly  due  to  the 
difficulty  above  iloted  of  drawing  correct  inferences  from 
limited  investigation,  and  under  the  varying  influences 
of  the  elements  and  seasons. 

The  next  in  importance  to  the  angler,  of  the  four 
different  varieties  of  Up- winged  water  flies,  are  the  Large 
or  Spring  Browns,  so-called  from  their  being  more  preva- 
lent in  the  earlier  parts  of  the  season.  The  first  appear- 
ance of  this  second  species  is  the  well-known  March 
Brown*  of  the  northern  and  southern  counties,  and  the 
Dun  Drake  of  the  midlands,  the  streams  of  which  dis- 
trict produce  this  fly  more  freely  than  elsewhere.  The 
term  Dun  Drake,  is  applied,  because  it  bears  a  con- 
spicuous resemblance  to  the  May-fly  or  Drake  in  point  of 
both  size  and  attitude,  being  twice  the  size  of  an  ordinary 
dun.  When  these  flies  first  ascend  from  the  watery 
depths  they  are  eagerly  absorbed  by  the  feeding  fish. 
Though  styled  the  March  Brown,  they  are  seldom  up 
before  the  beginning  of  April  on  most  streams.  After  a 
few  weeks  of  genial  weather,  the  fly  becomes  of  lighter 
hue,  as  in  the  case  of  the  olive  dun,  but  with  this  differ- 
ence, that  it  perceptibly  decreases  in  size.  A  strange 
inaccuracy  is  credited  in  respect  to  the  first  change  of 
this  fly.  It  is  supposed  to  be  the  female  brown,  but  that 
is  perfectly  erroneous,  as  the  difference  in  sex  cannot  be 
distinguished  until  the  final  stage  of  existence,  viz.,  that 
of  spinners,  in  which  they  propagate  their  species.  The 
spinners  in  this  case  are  called  the  Great  Reds,  which  are 
numerous,  more  or  less,  just  in  proportion  as  their  pre- 
decessors, the  large  Browns,  have  been  prevalent ;  as  is 
also  the  case  with  the  ordinary  Red  Spinners  of  the 
Olive  duns.  In  May  the  March  Brown  is  recognized  as 
the  Turkey  Brown,  f  light  and  dark,  in  accordance  with. 


*  A  standard  fly  in  America. 

t  Under  this  name,  my  favorite  fly  for  black  bass,  is  known  on  the 
streams  of  Pennsylvania.    It  is  usually  tied  on  a  No.  4  Sproat  hook. 


PISCATORIAL  ENTOMOLOGY.  107 

the  weather.  This  fly  diminishes  in  size  as  the  weather 
grows  warmer.  By  August  the  fly  is  still  a  little  smaller, 
and  is  known  as  the  August  Brown  or  Dun.  These  are 
seldom  numerous,  the  nympha  being  generally  in  a  state 
of  torpor  in  the  hot  months,  as  it  is  a  hardy  insect,  and 
partial  to  rough  weather.  A  few  Up-winged  Browns 
continue  to  haunt  the  surface  of  rivers  and  streams  for 
the  remainder  of  the  season,  bat  are  seldom  sufficiently 
numerous  to  merit  attention. 

The  Iron  Blue  Dun  ranks  next  in  importance  to  the 
Up-winged  Browns.  This  is  a  distinct  species,  and  is 
not  to  be  confounded  with  the  Olive  Dun,  which  is 
double  the  size.  The  general  prevailing  color  of  this 
insect  is  a  beautiful  deep  blue,  except  upon  the  body, 
where  there  is  a  faint  tinge  of  mauve,  intermingled  with 
blue. 

It  makes  its  first  appearance  in  April;  in  May,  however, 
it  is  infinitely  more  plentiful,  but  has  then  a  mauve-color- 
ed body,  acquiring  a  lighter  hue  as  the  season  advances, 
precisely  similar  to  the  other  duns.  The  fly  appears  in 
June  and  July,  but  paler  in  wings  and  body,  when  it  is 
recognized  as  the  Little  Sky  Blue;  and  in  the  early  part 
of  September  is  called  the  Little  Pale  Blue.  Later  still 
it  is  very  plentiful,  but  darker  in  shade,  until  in  October 
it  closely  resembles  the  olive  shade  of  the  Duns  in  April; 
indeed  these  are  frequently  taken  for  half-matured  Olive 
Duns ;  but  this  cannot  be,  as  all  winged  water  insects  at- 
tain full  growth  and  dimensions  immediately  upon  quit- 
ting the  pupa  case.  The  metamorphosis  of  this  fly  is 
the  Jenny  (or  Jinney)  Spinner.  This  is  a  beautiful  and 
delicate  fly,  so  delicate  that  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to 
copy  it  successfully.  The  color  is  pure  milk-white  upon 
legs,  wings  and  body,  except  a  bright  crimson  band  at 
each  extremity  of  the  last-named. 

Each  of  the  three  varieties  of  up-winged  water  flies 
live  three  days,  after  having  ascended  from  the  river's 


108  THE   SCIEN'TIFIC   ANGLER. 

bed,  and  burst  their  "swathings."  Thejthen  cast  their 
skins,  like  stripping  oil  a  garment,  and  reappear  as  spin- 
ners. They  live  about  five  days  in  this,  the  concluding 
period  of  their  life.  We  have  several  times  taken  for 
experimental  purposes  a  number  of  Common  Red  Spin- 
ners, Jenny  Spinners,  and  Great  Red  Spinners  (trans- 
formations of  the  Olive  Dun,  Iron  Blue  Dun,  and  Up- 
winged  Browns).  These  we  have  deposited  upon  the 
water  contained  in  a  fish-hatching  box,  through  which 
ran  constantly  a  stream  of  fresh  water,  the  whole  being 
well  and  closely-fitted  over.  There  they  have  deposited 
their  eggs,  each  fly  dropping  several  as  it  rose  and  fell 
upon  the  top  of  the  water.  After  this  last  and  most 
important  function  of  their  life  had  been  performed, 
each  having  deposited  its  hundreds  of  eggs,  every  sign  of 
vitality  vanished,  and  they  appeared  lifeless,  and  merely 
a  flimsy  form  inflated  with  air. 

By  the  aid  of  a  powerful  microscope  we  were  enabled 
to  investigate  minutely,  from  time  to  time,  several  points 
of  special  interest  to  us.  By  careful  and  oft-repeated 
researches  we  ascertained  that  from  thirty-six  to  forty 
days  serve  to  hatch  the  eggs,  when  deposited  in  the  sum- 
mer months,  but  much  longer  if  in  spring ;  and  almost 
immediately  after  this  has  happened,  the  larva  or  grub 
secretes  itself  amongst  the  sediment  at  the  bottom  of  the 
water,  instinct,  doubtless,  prompting  this  as  security 
against  the  numerous  enemies  which  prey  upon  it.  The 
form  of  the  larva  is  shown  to  be  elongated,  with  six  per- 
fect legs,  and  whisked  tail,  also  armed  with  a  pair  of 
formidable  forceps,  with  which  its  food  is  seized.  Along 
the  sides  there  is  a  range  of  web-like  appendages,  which 
serve  as  fins  ;  and  by  the  aid  of  this  propelling  power 
the  larva  becomes  exceedingly  active,  in  the  course  of 
five  or  six  months  the  larva  changes  into  a  pupa,  or 
nympha,  by  breaking  through  a  filament  or  outward 
skin.     Upon  the  shoulders  there  are  now  two  small  pro- 


PISCATORIAL  ENTOMOLOGY.  109 

tuberances,  which  ultimately  develop  into  wings.  When 
m  the  larva  and  pupa  states  the  insect  is  excessively 
voracious  ;  like  the  small  clothes-moth  it  feeds,  not  when 
fully  developed,  but  when  ''swathed"  up  in  its  tough 
pliable  case.  The  larvae  of  both  moth  and  fly  devour 
many  times  their  own  weight  in  a  single  week,  and  this 
is  the  case  with  all  water-flies,  whether  Ephemeridm  or 
PhryganeidcB  (Up-winged  or  Flat-winged),  which  feed  only 
when  in  the  larva  and  pupa  state,  absorbing  sufficient 
nutriment  to  sustain  them  during  the  short  and  final 
stages  of  their  life.  They  afterwards  appear  in  their 
new  sphere,  first  as  Duns,  secondly,  as  perfect  imagos  or 
Insects. 

As  the  eggs  of  the  EphemeridcB  had  been  deposited  in 
May,  in  the  following  February,  whenever  the  state  of 
the  water  permitted,  the  first  flies  emerged  from  their 
pupa  case,  rose  to  the  top  of  the  water,  and  bursting  yet 
another  shell-like  skin,  unfolded  their  now  perfect  wings, 
and  appeared  as  early  Blue  Duns.  A  little  more  genial 
weather,  and  the  Cockwing  and  the  Olive,  from  which 
the  fly  takes  its  name,  were  predominant,  the  lighter 
shades  appearing  as  the  nymphae  gradually  attained  ma- 
turity, up  to  mid-summer.  April  saw  the  first  instalment 
of  Iron  Blue,  March  or  Spring  Browns  also  appeared, 
both  being  of  a  lighter  shade,  and  the  latter  a  little 
smaller  in  dimensions,  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  weeks. 
Up  to  July  the  color  of  the  Duns  ranged  in  the  precise 
ratio  we  have  given,  by  which  time  the  whole  of  the 
nymphae  had  attained  maturity,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  of  the  Browns,  which  rose  in  August,  smaller  still 
in  size.  To  have  the  whole  season's  supply  of  the  Ephe- , 
meridcB  it  is  necessary  to  take  Spinners  about  May,  and 
again  in  August.  The  latter  produce  first  the  delicate 
tints,  ending  with  the  lead-blue  shades  that  are  seen  in 
November. 

Such  casts  as  are  called  the  Apple-green,  Orange,  and 


110  THE   SCIENTIFIC    A:N"GLER. 

Whirling  Blue  Duns,*  do  not  occur  anything  like  annu- 
ally ;  they  prevail  only  during  a  spell  of  unseasonable 
weather.  A  Dun  of  these  pronounced  shades  may  not 
be  observed  for  several  seasons,  whilst  for  some  weeks  in 
the  succeeding  one  it  may  be  exceedingly  prevalent.  If 
the  range  of  shades  previously  described  are  correctly  as- 
serted to  be  dependent  upon  the  state  of  the  elements, 
and  therefore  accidental,  these  latter  are  doubly  so. 

The  May-fly,  Green  Drake,  or  Cadow  concludes  the 
order  of  up-winged  insects.  This  fly  is  an  annual  one, 
appearing  upon  the  majority  of  trout  streams  about  the 
first  week  in  June.  Throughout  Britain  it  may  be  said 
to  be  in  season  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  middle  of 
June.  These  flies  are  often  wondrously  numerous.  The 
first  four  days  or  so  when  they  begin  to  come  up,  the 
fish  seem  rather  afraid  of  them,  but  as  they  become  more 
numerous  they  are  greedily  taken.  These  flies  are  com- 
mon for  twelve  or  fifteen  days,  when  they  entirely  disap- 
pear until  the  next  season.  The  fish  so  gorge  themselves 
during  the  drake  season  that  they  lie  dormant  for  some 
days  before  they  are  relieved  from  the  effects  of  their  ex- 
cess. More  has  been  written  upon  this  than  perhaps 
any  other  fly.  It  has  been  set  up  as  an  analogy  for  the 
lesser  ephemeral  orders,  which  is  scarcely  correct,  as  it 
appears  but  for  a  limited  period  annually;  and  in  the 
second  place  the  eggt  remains  in  the  water  two  years  be- 
fore it  grows  sufficiently,  and  has  arrived  at  a  proper 
state  of  perfection  to  ascend.  It  is  also  longer  lived  as 
a  fly.  Swammerdam  speaks  of  it  as  *'a  being  of  a 
day,  whose  life  in  a  perfect  state  is  compassed  in  a  few 
hours."  Another  affirms  that  **they  lay  about  eight 
hundred  eggs  immediately  upon  the  wings  being  devel- 


*  These  flies  are  made  here  and  used  on  our  waters. 
t  The  larva. 


PISCATORIAL   ENTOMOLOGY.  Ill 

oped,  and  the  whole  are  deposited  in  a  shorter  time  than 
another  insect  would  consume  in  laying  one." 

Our  own  experience  tells  us  that  they  live  from  eleven 
to  fourteen  days — nine  days  as  green,  the  remainder 
gray — and  that  they  do  not  propagate  their  species  until 
they  reach  the  final  or  perfect  state,  viz.,  that  of  gray 
drakes.  Nor  do  they  lay  eight  hundred  eggs.  Our  in- 
vestigations go  to  prove  three  or  four  hundred  to  be  the 
utmost  possible  limit ;  and,  as  to  their  depositing  the 
whole  instantly,  the  idea  is  absurd. 

We  have  seen,  more  than  once.  Stone  and  Cinnamon 
flies  and  common  moths  lay  eggs  at  the  rate  of  sixty  per 
minute — one  per  second  ;  but  with  the  up-winged  insects 
the  operation  is  much  more  leisurely  achieved.  Floods 
do  not  deter  or  retard  the  appearance  of  the  water  flies, 
further  than  what  damage  may  be  done  in  a  sandy  or 
loose-bottomed  river  by  the  larvae  being  crushed  or  swept 
away. 

When  the  weather  is  seasonable,  the  drake  appears 
upon  some  waters  literally  in  swarms,  so  thick  that  to 
fill  the  live-fiy  basket  is  often  the  work  of  but  a  few 
moments.  The  exact  annual  time  to  a  few  days  when 
they  come  "  up  "  upon  each  river  is  slightly  subservient 
to  the  weather. 

The  Gray  or  Black  Drake  is  the  metamorphosis  or 
transformation  of  the  green.  The  color  is  black  and 
white,  and  the  fly  finely  and  minutely  freckled  in  the 
wings.  The  body  is  milk  white,  the  ribs  faintly  touched 
with  black,  as  also  each  extremity  of  the  body.  The  legs 
and  tail  are  black,  the  latter  being  double  the  length  of 
the  former.  These  flies  are  only  prevalent  as  the  season 
of  the  drake  begins  to  wane.  They  whirl  in  clouds  in  the 
shadows  of  trees  near  and  overhanging  the  water,  strag- 
glers ever  and  anon  dropping  upon  its  surface  to  deposit 
eggs,  which  occurs  particularly  towards  evening.    In  this 


112  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

act  they  are  generally  caught  by  the  fish,  which  inces- 
santly feed,  so  long  as  their  prey  is  plentiful. 

This  fly  is  not  nearly  so  much  appreciated  as  the  green, 
being  in  its  perfect  state  more  active,  for,  in  common 
with  other  ephemeral  transformations,  it  improves  more 
in  outward  form  than  inward  substance  ;  hence  the  pref- 
erence of  the  wily  fish.  The  Gray  Drake*  generally 
takes  shelter  under  the  leaves  of  trees  and  bushes  during 
mid-day  in  sultry  weather,  emerging  in  the  evening  in 
incredible  numbers,  and  sporting  in  the  air  in  every  di- 
rection. When  the  fly  is  matured  enough  to  lay  eggs  it 
is  designated  the  Spent  Black,  owing  to  its  gradually 
getting  darker  in  color  towards  the  end  of  its  existence. 
The  operation  of  depositing  the  eggs  so  exhausts  the  fly, 
that  it  dies  immediately  on  the  completion  of  this  func- 
tion, a  hollow  shell  being  all  that  remains. 

This  insect,  when  in  its  new-born  aerial  dress,  flutters 
heavily,  like  the  freshly-fledged  song  bird,  and  then  ap- 
pears devoid  of  all  sense  of  feeling;  but  in  its  last  stage 
it  is  too  delicate  for  live-fly  fishing;  indeed,  it  is  then  so 
marvellously  fragile  that  it  may  be  said  to  be  at  the 
mercy  of  a  breath  of  wind,  the  slightest  touch  ending  its 
existence.  In  some  instances  this  fly  appears  of  a  much 
brighter  green,  the  metamorphosis  being  of  a  freckled 
red-brown.  This  is  commonly  called  the  '*  mackerel," 
light  or  dark.  It  frequents  slow-running,  thickly-wooded 
streams,  but  is  of  little  importance  to  the  fisherman. 

The  Flat-winged  flies  consist  of  a  far  greater  variety  of 
species  ;  but,  even  taking  them  as  a  whole,  they  are  of 
but  secondary  importance  from  a  piscatorial  point  of 
view.  We  shall  now,  how^ever,  proceed  to  enumerate 
the  two  leading  orders  of  the  flat-winged  insects  which 
are  requisite  to  a  complete  equipment. 


*  A  standard  fly  with  us. 


PISCATORIAL   EKTOMOLOGY.  113 

The  first  of  these  claiming  our  attention  are  the  water 
Flat-wings,  the  leading  species  of  which  are  the  Phryga- 
neidcB,  consisting  of  the  red,  sand,  cinnamon,  and  bank 
flies,  also  the  grannum  or  green-tail ;  and  the  Perlidce, 
whicJi  family  includes  the  Stone  Fly,  Yellow  Sally,* 
Willow,  and  Needle  Fly,  or  Tail-to-Tail.  These  flat- 
winged  flies  arise  from  the  larva  or  grub  which  is  found 
in  small  twigs,  etc.,  these  having  been  excavated  to  form 
a  retreat.  The  Red  or  Welsh  fly  is  a  four- winged  na- 
tural, its  wings  lying  alongside  the  body,  so  as  to  com- 
pletely envelop  it  except  underneath,  thus  forming  a 
roof-like  ridge  across  the  back.  It  is  the  earliest  fly  out 
in  the  spring,  and  may  be  seen  upon  the  first  tolerably 
open  day  in  January,  fluttering  industriously  as  it  is  car- 
ried down  stream.  These  are  in  some  districts  believed 
to  be  the  March  Brown,  but  there  is,  as  has  been  else- 
where stated,  a  marked  distinction  between  them.  It  is 
a  very  useful  fly  in  the  early  months. 

After  the  February  Red,  the  next  in  this  order  is  the 
Sand-fly,  which  is  precisely  similar  as  to  size  and  attitude, 
but  of  a  pronounced  sandy  hue  universally.  This  fly 
usually  makes  its  appearance  in  the  latter  half  of  April, 
continuing  more  or  less  prevalent  during  May,  and  again 
in  the  autumn.  Like  the  generality  of  four- winged  flies, 
it  is  seldom  on  the  wing,  and  when  so  is  a  solitary  in- 
sect, but  is  a  favorite  with  the  fish,  even  when  sparsely 
present. 

The  Foetid  Brown,  or  Cinnamon,  f  follows  the  sand-fly. 
This  is  a  much  larger  insect,  being  more  than  two- thirds 
of  an  inch  in  length,  from  the  tip  of  the  head  to  the  tail. 
In  general  attitude  it  is  precisely  similar  to  those  pre- 


*  Sometimes  called  the  Yellow  May. 
t  Known  by  the  latter  name  in  America. 


114  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

viously  described,  but  it  is  of  a  darker  and  more  ruddy 
brown  than  the  sand-fly  ;  it  is  more  plentiful  in  the 
autumn  than  at  any  other  time  of  the  year.  Its  name 
has  orginated  from  the  fact  of  there  being  a  faint  odor  of 
cinnamon  emitted  by  it  when  handled.  It  is  inyaluable 
for  live-fly  fishing,  but  it  is  seldom  *'up"  in  sufficient 
strength  on  open  water,  to  make  it  equally  valuable  for 
casting.  Being  excessively  heavy  in  its  flights,  its  mo- 
tions and  flutterings  are  very  awkward.  In  July  and 
August  it  frequents  the  surface  of  the  water  under  shelv- 
ing banks  and  sheltered  places,  and  is  then  styled  the 
bank  fly.  In  common  with  the  Spring  Browns  it  is  con- 
siderably smaller  in  size  during  the  hot  months  ;  but  is 
more  numerous  on  cold  days. 

The  Green-tail,*  or  Grannum,  completes  this  order  of 
flies.  It  appears  at  first  sight  like  a  freckled  sand-fly,  but 
upon  a  more  minute  inspection,  is  found  to  differ  con- 
siderably in  several  points.  The  body  has  a  strange  ap- 
pendage of  a  conspicuous  green  color  at  its  extremity. 
This  is  its  egg-pouch,  and  it  is  observed  to  drop  its  egg, 
like  the  spinners  of  the  ephemeral  order,  as  it  rises  and 
falls  upon  the  top  of  the  water. 

The  PerlidcB  order  ranks  next  to  the  above.  The  most 
useful  we  have  given  as  being  the  stone,  willow,  and 
needle  flies,  also  the  yellow  Sally.  The  first-named  is  a 
very  large  fly,  and  in  some  localities  is  termed  the  May 
fly,  as  it  annually  makes  its  first  appearance  in  that  month. 
There  is,  however,  the  same  distinctive  difference  be- 
tween this  and  the  May  fly,  or  Green  Drake,  that  we  have 
already  described  in  the  February  Red  and  the  March 
Brown,  with  this  exception,  that  the  wings  of  the  Stone 
fly  are  double  the  length  of  those  of  the  Bed  fly,  and  lie 
still  more  horizontally,  being  almost  flat  upon  the  back 


*  This  fly  is  made   by  our  tackle  dealers,  but,  so  far  as  I  know,  is 
not  in  general  use. 


PISCATORIAL   ENTOMOLOGY.  115 

of  the  insect.  Except  upon  blustering  windy  days,  these 
flies  are  seldom  *^ on"  in  sufficient  quantities  to  excite 
the  attention  of  the  fish ;  though  as  a  luscious  morsel, 
the  large  fish  seldom  ignore  even  the  solitary  specimen 
when  it  essays  a  paddling  excursion  across  its  native  ele- 
ment. Its  general  haunts  are  amongst  the  gravel  and 
pebbles  by  the  sides  of  streams,  hence  the  name;  but 
when  carried  by  a  high  breeze  to  mid  stream  in  any 
number,  the  artificial  may  be  used  with  signal  success. 
The  larvae  of  these  large  water  insects  form  food  for  fish 
some  ten  days  or  more  before  they  are  mature  enough  to 
*'rise,"  as  the  grub  then  becomes  very  active,  and  at- 
tracts the  attention  of  the  fish.  The  grub,  when  ex- 
tracted from  the  case  or  twig  which  it  inhabits,  is  used 
in  a  similar  manner  to  the  wasp  bait  and  maggot  for 
bottom  fishing. 

The  Willow  fly  appears  in  August.  This  is  a  well- 
known  insect,  and  on  all  our  most  frequented  trout  and 
grayling  streams  is  one  of  the  first  flies  that  the  latter 
fish  feed  ravenously  upon,  when  coming  into  condition 
after  the  spawning  period.  The  color  of  its  wings  is  a 
dark,  ruddy,  brown  blue,  with  light-colored  ribs,  and 
legs  a  rusty  black.  Unlike  most  naturals,  these  flies,  in- 
stead of  taking  their  names  from  their  own  color,  are 
almost  universally  known  by  the  term  Willow,  which 
appellation  may  have  originated  from  the  fact  of  their 
being  generally  most  abundant  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  willow  trees,  particularly  while  upon  the  wing,  when 
they  may  be  observed  in  whirling  masses  just  above  the 
surface  of  the  water. 

The  Keedle  fly,  Needle-brown,  or  Tail-to-Tail,  as  it  is 
sometimes  called,  is  a  peculiar- looking  insect;  its  wings 
are  folded  in  a  manner  so  neat  and  compact,  and  fit  so 
closely  to  the  body,  as  to  give  the  observer  the  impres- 
sion that  it  is  devoid  of  them  altogether.  In  the  warm- 
est hours  of  a  September  day,  myriads  of  them  are  to  be 


116  THE   SCIENTIFIC   A:N-GLER. 

seen  fluttering  in  clouds  in  the  shade  of  trees,  bridges, 
etc.  They  are  of  a  dingy  brown  shade  on  the  body,  legs, 
and  wings,  and  unless  seen  in  a  certain  light  are  almost 
indistinguishable  when  in  action  over  the  water.  There 
are  two  sizes  of  these  flies  when  full  grown,  the  largest 
being  fully  half  an  inch  in  length,  the  other  about  two- 
thirds  that  size.  This  is  one  of  the  best  of  our  grayling 
flies.  The  fish  being  partial  to  small  insects,  the  lesser 
one  is  generally  used  by  most  fishermen.  This  fly  fre- 
quents some  streams  in  lieu  of  the  Willow,  and  is  equally 
killing.  Needle  flies  are  numerous  on  warm  mizzly  days, 
throughout  the  fall  of  the  year. 

The  Yellow  Sally  concludes  the  list  of  the  Perlidm 
order  deserving  the  notice  of  the  angler.  The  fly  is  of  a 
general  primrose  tint,  and  when  once  seen  can  never  be 
mistaken.  It  rises  about  the  middle  of  June,  being  more 
or  less  numerous  during  the  hot  months,  but  is  not 
much  appreciated  by  the  fish.  It  is  seldom  really  on  the 
water,  even  when  well  out,  being  a  stray  flier,  often 
descending  from  a  great  height  to  deposit  eggs  in  the 
water,  falling  apparently  lifeless,  but  immediately  spring- 
ing up  to  soar  anew,  and  repeat  the  operation.  The 
artificials  of  this  fly  fail  to  be  effective,  owing  to  their 
being  dressed  "winged;"  most  flat-winged  water  flies 
should  be  dressed  "buzz"*  to  kill  well.  The  best 
chance  of  killing  with  this  fly  is  during  or  soon  after  a 
passing  storm,  which  beats  them  down  upon  the  water. 

We  have  now  enumerated  the  three  principal  orders  of 
winged  water  insects.  A  reproduction  of  one  of  each 
some  accomplished  fly-fishers  place  upon  their  casts  for 
all  round  fishing;  but  we  do  not  advise  our  readers  to  act 
up  to  any  system,  but  would  rather  encourage  them  to 
use  their  own  observation,  to  be  quick  to  take  note  of 


*  "  Buzz  "—Tied  palmer  fashion  witli  tbe  hackles  well  down  on  the 
herd  of  the  hook. 


PISCATORIAL   ENTOMOLOGY.  117 

existing  influences  and  their  general  bearings  on  the 
occasion,  and  thus  to  adapt  themselves  to  meet  circum- 
stances which  would  otherwise  prove  detrimental  to 
sport.  The  real  essence  of  the  art  lies  in  deceiving  the 
fish  by  a  correct  copy  of  any  fly  that  may  be  at  any  time 
absorbing  their  attention.* 

We  have  yet  briefly  to  mention  the  casual  killers 
amongst  the  numerous  tribes  of  land  insects,  which  may 
be  summed  up  as  follows: — Cow-dung-fly,  Small  Beetles 
(Marlow  Buzz,  or  Coch-y-bondu),  Oak  fly,  Blue  Bottle, 
Wren-tail,  the  A  nts,  and  Gray  and  Black  Gnats,  f  These 
flies  pass  their  pupa  stage  in  the  earth,  either  in  thickly 
wooded,  or  meadow  land;  they,  therefore,  do  not  habit- 
ually frequent  the  water,  but  are  driven  upon  it  by 
rough  weather. 

The  Cow-dung-fly  we  have  fully  commented  upon 
elsewhere  in  *^ Notes  on  the  Months."  The  term  Small 
Beetles,  includes  the  lady-cow  and  ear-wig,  as  well  as  the 
small  members  of  the  beetle  tribe  proper,  which  are 
prevalent  more  or  less  throughout  the  season.  The  arti- 
ficial is  a  simple  hackled  fly  (elsewhere  described)  which 
effectually  represents  the  numerous  members  of  the 
above  varieties. 

The  Oak-fly,  or  Down-looker,  usually  accompanies  the 
Green  Drake.  There  is  another  fly  that  is  commonly 
used  in  its  natural  state,  particularly  upon  thickly- 
wooded  streams;  it  is  often  seen  upon  the  trunks  of 
trees,  etc.,  upon  which  it  invariably  rests  with  its  head 
downwards,  instantly  assuming  that  position  if  alighting 
in  any  other.     In  cold  or  inclement  weather,  it  secretes 

*  Anglers,  both  American  and  Euglish,  differ  widely  on  this  subject. 
I  have,  on  many  occasions,  filled  my  creel  with  fine  trout  using  a  black 
hackle,  when  a  dark  bug  could  not  be  seen  during  the  entire  day,  over 
or  on  the  water.    This  is  not  an  exceptional  occurrence. 

t  The  Cow-dung  and  Coch-y-bondu  are  killing  black  bass  flies.  The 
gray  and  black  gnats  and  ants  will  be  familiar  to  our  old  anglers. 


118  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

itself  amongst  the  roots  of  luxuriant  grass  or  thick  moss, 
until  more  genial  weather  prevails.  The  fly  is  perfectly 
flat-winged,  and  in  attitude  resembles  the  house  and 
wood  flies.  These  three  flies  are,  perhaps,  the  most  com- 
monly known  British  insects. 

The  Wood  fly  resembles  the  domestic  house  fly  in  all 
particulars  except  size,  it  being  a  trifle  larger,  and  is 
especially  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  cattle,  to  which  it 
is  very  obnoxious,  especially  in  wooded  districts.  In 
cold  weather,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  all  the  tribes  of 
wood  and  house  flies  become  blind,  when  they  are  swept 
upon  the  water  in  great  quantities,  to  be  picked  off  by 
both  trout  and  grayling,  especially  the  latter.  The  Gray 
Palmer  efficiently  represents  these  drowning  insects,  when 
vainly  fluttering  to  extricate  themselves  from  the  foreign 
element. 

The  Blue  Bottle  is  most  in  request  for  live  fly-fishing 
in  July  and  August.  It  is  sometimes  cast  along  with 
the  gray  palmer,  and  renders  good  account  of  its  attrac- 
tive powers,  but  cannot  be  said  to  be  infallible.  The 
Wren-tail,  or  Frog-hopper,  forms  one  of  the  many  varie- 
ties of  winged  insects  numerous  in  July.  In  common 
with  the  small  blacks,  it  braves  the  heat  of  the  noonday 
sun.  The  latter  fortunately  differ  very  materially  in  re- 
gard to  their  habits  and  movements,  as  they  are  inces- 
santly hovering  over  the  water,  whilst  the  frog-hopper 
merely  appears  accidentally,  and,  therefore,  unintention- 
ally, upon  its  bosom.  It  is  occasionally  to  be  used  with 
effect. 

The  Ants*  are  only  occasionally  numerous,  but  in 
some  localities  the  red  species  are  common  in  sandy  soils, 
and  amongst  wild,  broken  ground.  The  black  variety 
are  found  only  in  thickly-wooded  districts,  where  they 


*The  red  and  black  ants  are  favorites  during  low  water.    The  eggs 
are  used  sometimes  with  killino:  effect  on  the  point  of  a  fly  hook. 


PISCATORIAL   EI^TOMOLOGY.  119 

build  their  hills  to  a  considerable  size  of  small  twigs, 
leaf  stems,  etc.  In  sultry  weather  these  little  creatures 
will  migrate  to  the  nearest  water  to  indulge  in  a  cooling 
bath,  and,  when  this  happens  to  be  a  trout  stream,  both 
fijh  and  fishermen  experience  lively  times.  Their  eggs 
are  much  sought  after  for  angling  purposes,  being  excel- 
lent bait  for  almost  every  description  of  fresh-water 
fish,  when  prepared  and  used  similar  to  trout  and  sal- 
mon roe. 

The  Gray  and  Black  Gnats,  and,  indeed,  the  whole 
fraternity  of  "smuts,"  arise  from  the  soil  of  sheltered 
meadow  banks  ;  they  are  most  obnoxious  to  the  fly-fisher 
when  out  in  any  quantity. 

Year  after  year,  and  century  after  century,  a  curious 
and  interesting  equilibrium  is  maintained  by  nature, 
with  but  few  deviations,  in  regard  to  insect  life  in  this 
temperate  clime.  Whil&t  various  members  of  the  beetle, 
ant,  and  other  orders  increase,  at  intervals,  to  a  really 
alarming  extent  in  more  southern  latitudes,  in  this  coun- 
try a  truly  marvellous  balance  of  insect  existence  is  pre- 
served by  the  restraining  action  of  counter  influences  on 
the  enormous  procreative  powers  with  which  they  are 
invested,  When  myriads  of  flies  are  observed  depositing 
their  eggs  literally  by  millions,  upon  water  or  land,  we 
are  led  to  investigate  the  reason  why  their  material  in- 
crease is  seldom  rendered  notable,  and  we  find  that  the 
mass  simply  go  to  feed  other  creatures,  whose  sole  mission 
would  appear  to  be  to  counteract,  regulate,  and  hold  in 
check  their  kindred  species.  All  insects  of  the  smaller 
kind,  inhabiting  the  earth  or  water,  feed  upon  the  ova  of 
the  different  orders  of  winged  insects,  the  pupae  of  which 
retaliate  in  turn  by  preying  continuously  upon  the  mi- 
nute insects,  the  enemies  of  their  previous  existence.  Thus 
by  a  wonderful  scheme  of  Providence,  the  perfect  chain 
of  animated  nature  and  organized  creation  is  accurately 
preserved. 


120  THE   SCIEis'TIFIC   ANGLER. 

When  insects  arrive  at  maturity,  there  is  this  signal 
and  distinctive  diiference  between  the  aerial  and  aquatic 
species.  The  former  are  voracious  feeders  when  in  their 
perfect  state  ;  the  latter  do  not,  as  we  have  shown,  feed 
at  all  when  in  the  sub-imago  and  perfect  stages  of  their 
existence,  so  that  no  devastating  results  issue  from  any 
multiplication  of  these.  The  same  observation  cannot 
be  applied  with  equal  truth  to  the  case  of  the  land  in- 
sects, which,  when  plentiful,  are  the  bane  of  man  and 
beast.  Eeaumur  makes  mention  of  a  swarm  of  May 
flies  or  drakes  on  the  Marne,  which  completely  covered 
him  two  or  three  inches  in  depth,  in  the  space  of  a  few 
minutes.  Most  fishermen  have  experienced  something 
similar,  at  long  intervals,  with  regard  to  the  water  flies 
in  certain  localities:  this  is  the  result  of  a  combination  of 
circumstances  favorable  to  them.  Seasonable  weather  is 
always  favorable  to  insect  life.  A  mild  winter  will  tend 
to  destroy  the  ensuing  season's  general  supply,  by  caus- 
ing premature  activity,  followed  often  by  premature 
death,  or  at  best  by  a  relapse  into  a  state  of  torpor. 
These  changes  invariably  prove  prejudicial  to  the  exist- 
ence of  insects.  Steady  and  severe  cold,  when  season- 
able, upon  the  other  hand,  is  not  only  favorable  to 
insect  life,  by  causing  a  continued  state  of  torpor,  from 
which  they  emerge  in  due  season,  but  also  by  indirectly 
preserving  them  from  the  attacks  of  their  numerous 
enemies.  It  sometimes  happens  that,  from  a  variety  of 
causes,  running  water  is  of  a  higher  temperature  than 
the  atmosphere,  in  dry  frosty  weather  ;  and  as  the  aquatic 
insect,  prior  to  leaving  its  native  element,  is  wholly  in- 
fluenced by  it,  an  uprising  of  them  when  the  air  is  too 
cold  for  them  to  live  in  it,  is  not  by  any  means  an  infre- 
quent occurrence.  We  have  observed  them  rise  to  live 
but  a  few  hours,  and  sometimes  only  minutes,  in  the 
event  of  there  being  no  sun  temporarily  to  counteract 
the  effects  of  the  keen  air. 


(Plate  3.) 


SWIVEL  LEAD 


6  (121) 


ON    FLY   MAKING.  123 

CHAPTER  XL 
ON    FLY    MAKING. 


FLIES  FOR  TROUT  AND  GRAYLING  FISHING  ;  THE  ADVISABILITY 
OF  COPYING  NATURE;  UP- WINGED  AND  FLAT- WINGED 
ARTIFICIALS;  DRESSINGS  FOR  THE  DUNS,  BROWNS,  MAY 
FLIES,  OR  DRAKES  ;  FLAT- WINGED  WATER  FLIES  ;  LAND 
FLIES  ;  HOW  TO  DRESS  A  HACKLE  FLY,  PALMER,  ETC. ;  SAL- 
MON FLIES. 

Trout  and  Grayiing  Flies. — A  really  solid  advan- 
tage the  amateur  fly-maker  enjoys  is  his  ever  available 
ability  to  produce  copies  of  any  special  insect  the  fish 
may  just  then  be  regaling  themselves  upon,  when  other 
lures  fail  to  meet  with  due  appreciation.  Trout  are  often 
most  tantalizingly  fastidious;  and  though  occasionally, 
at  rare  intervals,  they  are  to  be  taken  by  almost  anything 
in  the  shape  of  a  fly,  it  is  merely  a  reckless  spirit  of  wan- 
tonness that  is  displayed,  in  which  case  sport  will  prove 
but  indifferent,  the  fish  in  reality  being  merely  playing 
and  not  feeding.  Trout  will  take  down  almost  any- 
thing when  in  this  mood ;  bits  of  leaves,  twigs,  and 
other  floating  atoms,  we  have  repeatedly  seen  them 
close  their  teeth  upon,  when  taking  observations  from 
the  chinks  of  a  wooden  foot  bridge;  but  these  float- 
ing substances  we  noted  invariably  rose  to  the  surface 
almost  immediately.  But  when,  on  the  other  hand, 
there  are  myriads  of  any  particular  fly  out,  the  thorough 
earnestness  displayed  by  the  feeding  fish,  as  they  eagerly 
absorb  the  abundance  of  food  thus  presented  upon  the 
surface  of  their  native  element,  bears  a  marked  contrast 
to  their  former  demeanor  ;  and  when  the  angler  happens 
not  to  possess  an  imitation  thereof  to  present,  in  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  instances  out  of  a  thousand. 


124  .  THE   SCIENTIFIC   Ai^GLER. 

his  lure  will  meet  with  an  unflattering  reception.  *  It  is 
then  that  the  proficient  fly-dresser,  by  a  little  display  of 
patience  and  ingenuity,  proves  equal  to  the  occasion,  and 
by  the  prompt  exercise  of  his  art,  rules  the  circumstances 
to  which  his  less  accomplished  brother  of  the  rod 
must  bow. 

Great  disappointment  is  often  experienced  by  the  un- 
initiated (and  we  regret  to  have  to  admit  there  should 
exist  gi'ounds  for  honest  complaints)  in  procuring  flies 
dressed  to  any  particular  artificial  or  natural  pattern. 
The  prevailing  custom  would  appear  to  be  simply  to 
choose  the  fly  in  stock,  bearing  the  best  resemblance  to 
the  pattern  required  in  its  various  details  ;  and  as  this  is 
occasionally  limited  in  its  character,  the  credulity  of  the 
fisher  is  not  infrequently  imposed  upon.  These  and 
other  tests  of  patience,  the  angler,  who  has  become  an 
apt  fly-dresser,  spares  himself.  Upon  the  other  hand,  it 
is  but  fair  to  point  out  the  little  drawbacks  it  is  necessary 
to  surmount. 

*  The  angling  experts  of  England  are  at  odds  with  each  other  on  the 
fly  question.  They  are  divided  between  "  colorists,"  who  think  that 
color  is  everything  ;  and  "  formalists,"  who  hold  that  the  natural  fly  on 
the  water,  at  a  stated  time,  must  be  closely  imitated  in  minutest  detail 
of  form  and  tints  of  coloring.  The  former  have  settled  down  to  a  few 
standard  colors,  and  the  latter  to  the  use  or  ownership  of  the  many 
hundreds  of  varieties  of  artificial  flies  that  now  compose  the  fly  fishers' 
lexicon.  Mr.  Francis  Francis  has  struck  a  happy  (?)  medium,  and  names 
thirty-two  flies  as  important  ones  for  use  on  a  trout  stream.  Mr.  Pennell, 
however,  reduces  the  list  to  three,  all  hackles:  the  green,  the  brown,  the 
yellow.  Perhaps  I  may  be  pardoned  for  a  line  or  so  on  this  subject. 
Some  years  ago  I  was  convinced  that  form  and  color  were  not  so  neces- 
sary to  secure  a  full  creel,  as  the  proper  manipulation  of  the  fly  upon  the 
surface  of  the  water.  The  closer  the  lure  is  assimulated  to  the  action  of 
the  struggling  insect,  the  surer  the  rise  and  strike  of  the  fish.  My 
attention  was  drawn  particularly  to  this  fact,  from  observing  that  the 
large  sun-perch  (the  "  Kiver  "  of  Western  waters),  never  rose  to  the  tail 
fly,  but  invariably  to  the  dropper,  as  it  danced  or  skipped  over  the  water 
under  the  tension  of  the  current.  1  fish  always  down  or  across  stream. 
On  one  occasion  when  taking  an  outing  with  an  angling  companion,  we 
chanced  on  a  large  pool,  at  the  upper  end  of  which  was  a  big  rock, 


ON"   FLY    MAKII^G.  125 

.  First,  then,  time  is  essential,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
for  the  practice  of  this  pleasing  art.  We  often  hear  it 
asserted  *'that  life  is  too  brief  to  admit  of  fishermen 
making  their  own  flies;"  every  art  and  pursuit  demand 
a  given  amount  of  application,  more  especially  until  a 
thorough  practical  knowledge  of  it  is  acquired.  To 
claim  an  exception  in  the  case  now  before  the  reader, 
would  certainly  be  unjustifiable ;  but  in  the  particular 
circumstances  to  which  we  have  made  allusion,  it  cannot, 
we  think,  be  denied  that  it  is  an  advantageous  accom- 
plishment to  the  fly-fisher.  Another  fact,  well  known 
to  all  practitioners,  whether  amateur  or  professional,  is, 
that  the  creditable  construction  of  well-known  artificials 
requires  a  certain  amount  of  studious  application.  Many 
dozens  have  frequently  to  be  made  and  discarded  before 
the  hand  acquires  the  accurate  '^  knack"  for  each  different 
description  of  fly;  therefore,  with  well-known  "stand- 
ards," the  professor  has  unmistakably  the  advantage, 
large  quantities  of  each  of  those  most  difficult  to  make 
being  produced  before  another  variety  is  taken  in  hand. 


some  five  feet  in  diameter,  rising  out  of  the  water.  Wishing  to  ex- 
change greetings,  my  friend  stopped  on  the  left  of  the  rock  and  myself 
on  the  right.  We  found  upon  inspection  that  our  end  flies  were  identi- 
cal, gray  and  Mack  palmers  tied  very  "buzz."  Mine  was  much  worn 
and  jagged— his  a  "  spick  and  span  "  fresh  one.  In  a  few  moments, 
and  in  a  sort  of  an  automatic  way,  we  commenced  casting,  chatting 
freely  in  the  meanwhile,  our  flies  dropping  within  two  or  three  feet  of 
each  other.  Soon  the  talk  ceased  on  my  part,  being  stopped  by  a  plucky 
rise  and  a  lucky  strike.  Not  to  be  tedious,  I  then  and  there  killed  five 
fish,  and  my  friend  did  not  get  a  rise.  After  the  fish  had  stopped  rising, 
we  queried  over  and  discussed  the  matter  without  avail,  and  it  was 
only  after  1  had  thrown  my  flies  across  the  pool  in  hope  of  getting  a 
loiterer,  that  ray  friend  struck  the  keynote  of  the  solution,  as  he  ex- 
claimed :  "  Look  at  your  tail-fly — it  leaves  a  wake  behind  it  like  a  stem- 
wheel  steamer."  True  it  was— my  jagged,  frayed  old  palmer  was  fur- 
rowing the  water  as  a  plow  would  a  fallow  field.  From  that  day  I 
fear  that  I  have  been  somewhat  of  a  Pennellite  on  the  fly  question.  I 
give  the  chapter  on  fly  tying  without  further  comment,  premising  that 
the  amateur  tyer  will  get  more  than  one  wrinkle  from  it. 


126  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

In  fly-making,  a  natural  specimen  of  the  fly  it  is  de- 
sired to  imitate  should  always  be  placed  before  the  artist. 
Man's  greatest  achievements  in  the  fine  arts  are  admired, 
and  justly  so,  in  proportion  to  their  faithful  accordance 
with  the  originals  of  nature.  Mere  reproductions  of 
these  are  not  nearly  so  much  esteemed  ;  for,  though  the 
original  canvas  may  be  valued  at  its  weight  in  gold,  even 
good  copies  are  of  small  comparative  worth.  We  have 
often  deplored  the  perverseness  of  individuals  who,  mis- 
conceiving the  object  and  aim  in  view,  persist  in  repro- 
ducing old  renderings,  from  books  and  other  sources, 
and  thus,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  improve  upon  exist- 
ing or  old  styles,  merely  perpetuate  them,  and  are  con- 
tent. Many  an  old  pattern  of  '^ artificial"  is  considered 
irresistible  in  its  season,  owing  to  past  exploits  in  which 
it  may  have  figured  favorably,  when  given  the  post  of 
honor  upon  the  fly-list.  Their  owners  fail  to  compre- 
hend that  their  vaunted  virtues  could  and  would  have 
been  eclipsed  in  the  matter  of  conquests,  had  a  truer, 
and  therefore  better  copy  been  employed  in  equally  fa- 
vorable circumstances. 

The  natural  insects,  common  to  all  pure  running 
streams,  are  precisely  similar  upon  all  waters  productive 
of  them;  nevertheless  the  immense  diversity  in  the  imita- 
tions (so  called  by  courtesy)  is  simply  astounding.  To 
take  the  Drake,  or  May  fly,  as  a  case  in  point.  Though, 
comparatively,  this  is  a  large  and  well-known  fly,  we 
venture  to  assert  that  if  a  copy  of  it  be  obtained  from 
five  hundred  different  fly-dressers,  scarcely  any  two  will 
be  alike;  and  it  may  be,  that  not  many  amongst  the  bet- 
ter renderings  have  much  in  common  with  the  original. 
To  the  eye  of  the  experienced  fly-fisher,  a  glance  at  the 
handiwork  of  any  fly-dresser  proclaims  the  amount  of 
practical  knowledge  and  experience  possessed  by  him. 
To  distinguish  an  old  style  of  fly  from  a  more  modern 
one,  is  a  much  easier  matter;  this  is  a  problem,  the  solu- 


ON   FLY   MAKING.  127 

tion  of  which  need  trouble  no  individual,  as  it  certainly 
does  not  the  fish.  As  we  have  before  pointed  out,  nature 
is  far  too  often  imitated  from  memory,  conventionality, 
and  tradition.  Keproduction  in  art  is  a  totally  different 
matter  from  reproduction  in  nature.  The  first -named 
means  in  reality  degeneration.  Through  such  a  process, 
truth,  ideality,  and  efficiency  are  lost  at  each  succes- 
sive step  down  the  ladder  of  routine.  Let  the  aspiring 
student  study  and  take  his  ideal  and  model  from  nature, 
and  then  progress  in  true  worth  and  efficiency  will  be 
effected. 

The  first  thing  to  note  when  a  strange  natural  is  taken 
in  hand  to  copy,  is  the  position  of  the  wings;  as  if  it  be 
"flat-winged,"  it  may  be  dressed  hackle,  or  palmer-wise, 
instead  of  being  winged;  whilst  if  it  be  up- winged,  it 
should  be  dressed  with  wings  nearly  erect,  and  broad  in 
proportion.  The  reason  for  this  is  obvious.  The  latter, 
when  upon  the  water,  float  buoyantly  along,  over  both 
broken  and  still  water,  which,  however,  is  scarcely  the 
case  with  the  first-named,  as  the  majority  of  these  insects, 
being  land  flies,  naturally  fail  to  take  to  the  water,  like 
the  *^ up-winged"  natives;  therefore  to  imitate  their 
buzzing  action  the  copies  are  usually  made  up  hackled 
and  wingless.     The  secondary  point  for  consideration  is 

The  Choice  of  Color,  which,  we  would  impress  upon 
the  mind  of  the  tyro,  requires  the  exercise  of  a  certain 
amount  of  judgment;  as  what  may  appear  to  be  the  cor- 
rect thing  to  look  down  upon,  will  in  all  probability  be 
a  glaring  departure  from  the  tint  required  when  viewed 
from  underneath.  It  must  ever  be  remembered  that  the 
fish,  from  their  position  below  the  natural  fly  and  the 
copy,  see  through  them;  when  viewed  thus  they  will  ap- 
pear, as  a  general  rule,  several  shades  lighter.  To  dis- 
tinguish the  correct  color  of  a  fly  as  presented  to  the  fish, 
we  know  of  no  better  method  than  to  place  it  in  a  clear 
glass  of  water,  and  hold  it  between  the  eye  and  the  light 


128  THE .  SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

in  such  a  position  as  to  be  able  to  see  underneath  the  in- 
sect. The  precise  shade  of  both  legs,  wings,  and  body 
will  then  be  accurately  ascertained. 

How  TO  Dress  the  Fly. — What  we  hereafter  endeavor 
to  expound  may  deviate  somewhat  from  the  general  rules 
laid  down  by  former  writers;  but  when  we  state  that  the 
method  of  construction  to  be  hereafter  divulged  has  been 
to  us  as  good  as  a  patent  since  we  originated  the  same, 
we  trust  our  motive  in  finally  making  public  the  result 
of  our  researches  in  this  by  no  means  unimportant  branch 
of  our  delightful  art,  will  not  be  misconstrued;  as  has, 
we  fear,  been  already  the  case  with  more  than  one  pre- 
decessor and  originator  of  improvements  in  artificials, 
whose  works  have  been  calumniated  by  individuals  who, 
to  hide  their  own  incompetency,  have  adopted  the  plan 
of  criticising  the  achievements  of  men  of  known  merit. 
But  we  digress.  It  is  customary  to  make  all  up-winged 
artificials  with  drooping  wings.  These,  when  wet,  or 
when  drawn  through  the  water,  lie  perfectly  flat  on  the 
back  of  the  hook,  and  when  this  is  the  case  with  a  dun 
or  spinner,  or  other  ephemeral,  it  is  a  glaring  departure 
from  the  original.  To  dress  up-winged  flies  so  as  to  re- 
tain their  all  but  erect  attitude  in  the  water,  and  that 
when  subjected  to  hard  and  heavy  use,  we  give  the  fol- 
lowing:— Let  us  suppose  for  the  time  being  that  the  in- 
tending operator  has  already  fashioned  the  body,  and  has 
in  readiness  the  material  for  its  remaining  appendages, 
viz.,  the  legs  and  wings.  Now,  instead  of  next  placing 
the  legs,  and  lastly  the  wings,  he  must  reverse  the  oper- 
ation by  attaching  the  wings  first,  the  addition  of  the 
legs  completing  the  process.  To  particularize,  the  wings 
should  not  be  detached  prior  to  being  put  upon  the  fly. 
The  feather  should  also  be  ample  in  dimensions.  A  half- 
inch  breadth  of  fibre  from  a  small  bird's  quill  feather, 
doubled  so  as  to  form  the  separate  wings  when  attached, 
is  about  the  amount  requisite  for  the  March  brown,  two 


ON  FLY  maki:n-g.  129 

thirds  of  this  quantity  for  the  oli^e  dun  order,  and  one 
half  for  the  iron  blue  duns.  After  securing  the  wings, 
which  should  be  about  the  length  of  the  hook,  thus  a 
little  longer  than  the  body,  they  are  placed  in  their  cor- 
rect position.  The  hackle,  with  which  it  is  intended  to 
form  the  legs,  is  then  turned  or  wrapped  into  position 
underneath  the  wings,  the  whole  being  well  supported  by 
a  few  well-planted  turns  of  the  tying  silk,  which  done, 
all  that  remains  is  for  the  silk  to  be  knotted  or  looped 
off  in  the  usual  way,  and  your  up-winged  fly  is  complete. 
With  reference  to  the  first  stage  of  its  construction,  much 
necessarily  depends  upon  the  precise  nature  of  the  mate- 
rial to  be  used  and  worked  up.  The  best  and  most  reli- 
able way  of  reproducing  the  varying  tinges  of  the  bodies 
of  the  flies  is  by  the  use  of  raw  silks  and  natural  furs. 
The  foundation  of  the  body  of  the  fly  is  formed  as  fol- 
lows : — The  hook  is  taken  in  the  forefinger  and  thumb  of 
the  left  hand  (point  downwards),  the  tying  silk  in  the 
right.  A  few  turns  of  the  silk  are  now  given  round  the 
shank  of  the  hook.  Meanwhile,  as  a  preliminary  ar- 
rangement, the  gut  is  slightly  indented  with  the  teeth  at 
the  extremity  to  be  secured.  This  lessens  the  chances  of 
drawing,  especially  in  the  hands  of  the  tyro.  The  tying 
silk  should  now  be  untwisted,  so  as  to  take  all  turn  out 
of  it,  preparatory  to  wrapping  on.  This  done,  the  artist 
works  the  textile  round,  leaving  a  fifth  of  the  shank  end 
of  the  hook  bare  to  fit  on  the  wings,  the  gut  and  hook, 
in  so  doing,  straining  the  silk  to  its  utmost  tension.  If 
whisks  or  tails  are  used,  they  should  be  secured  by  a 
couple  of  turns  of  the  silk  when  the  bend  of  the  hook  is 
reached,  the  fur  (if  any)  to  be  in  readiness.  A  minute 
portion  is  taken  by  the  thumb  and  finger  of  the  disen- 
gaged right  hand,  and  twisted  or  rolled  with  the  tying 
silk  so  as  to  adhere  to  that  part  of  it  near  the  hook, 
which  done,  the  silk  thus  prepared  may  now  carefully 
retrace  the  body,  to  form  the  ribs  of  the  fly.     These 


130  THE  SCIENTIFIC  ANGLER. 

should  be  at  a  regular  and  natural  distance  apart.  The 
surplus  fur  is  then  to  be  taken  both  from  the  silk  left 
and  the  body  of  the  "artificial"  (which  is  now  complete) 
by  an  effective  "nip"  or  two  of  the  finger  and  thumb, 
just  leaving  sufficient  upon  the  hook's  shank  to  faithfully 
represent  the  tinge  required.  When  the  ribs  are  of  a 
contrasted  hue,  more  carefulness  still  is  necessary  to  give 
due  effect.  When  the  wings  and  legs  are  attached  to  the 
body,  after  the  manner  we  have  pointed  out,  a  prim  and 
neat  rendering  of  an  ephemeral  is  formed  in  fautless 
attitude. 

The  following  are  the  various  dressings  for  the  Olive 
Dun  shades: — 

The  February  and  November  Shade  (commonly 
known  as  the  Blue  Dun). — Body,  a  small  portion  of  blue 
fur  spun  sparingly  on  yellow  silk;  wings,  from  the  field- 
fare's wing  feather;  legs,  a  light  dun  hackle. 

March  and  October  Shade  (cock-winged  dun). 
— Body,  a  small  portion  of  water-rat's  fur,  spun  sparingly 
on  full  yellow  silk;  wings,  from  an  old  starling's  quill 
feather;  legs,  a  bluish  dun  hackle,  freckled  with  yellow, 
or  a  blue  dun  hackle  slightly  stained  yellow. 

Those  of  April  and  September  (Olive  or  April  Dun). 
— Body,  small  portion  of  blue  fur,  spun  on  yellow  silk; 
wings,  palest  part  of  a  young  starling's  wing  feather; 
legs,  a  light  dun  hackle,  freckled  with  or  stained  yellow. 

Darh  April  Dun. — Rust-colored  fur  to  be  used  in  lieu 
of  the  pale  blue  for  body.  In  September  the  rust-like 
shade  of  body  here  alluded  to  is  yet  more  conspicuous. 
It  is  then  termed  in  some  localities  the 

Whirling  Blue  Dun. — The  body  being  formed  by  still 
more  pronounced  ruddy  fur;  legs,  a  dull  ginger  hackle. 
This  latter  is  very  difficult  to  procure.  An  ordinary 
ginger  Cochin  hen's  preserved  neck,  steeped  in  copperas 
water,  will  be  found  to  answer  admirably. 


ON  FLY   MAKING.  131 

Pale  Blue  Dun. — Body  to  be  dressed  or  formed  with 
pale  blue  silk;  legs,  a  pale  dun  hackle;  wings,  from  a 
starling's  short  quill  feather. 

May  akd  August  Shades  (Yellow  Dun  of  May). — . 
Body,  palish  yellow  mohair,  mixed  with  a  little  pale  blue 
fur,  spun  upon  palish  yellow  silk;  wings,  young  star- 
ling's or  fieldfare's  quill;  legs,  a  light  dun  hackle,  freck- 
led with  yellow. 

Harems  Ear  Dun. — Body,  blue  mole's  fur,  dressed  with 
silk  of  a  pronounced  yellow;  wings,  from  the  redwing's 
quill;  legs,  hare's  fur  from  behind  the  ear. 

The  name  of  this  dressiug  is  taken,  for  convenience 
sake,  in  common  with  the  rest  here  given,  from  the 
nature  of  the  material  used  in  the  copies  of  the  graduated 
shades  of  the  naturals,  which  periodically  occur  as  the 
season  advances  and  recedes. 

I]sr  June  Shade  (Golden  Dun),  to  be  tied  or  dressed 
with  deep  yellow  silk,  neatly  ribbed  with  fine  gold  wire; 
wings  from  a  young  starling's  longer  fiberia  quill;  legs,  a 
palish  dull  hackle,  freckled  with  yellow. 

The  common  Yellow  Dun  is  the  same  dressing,  minus 
the  gold  tassel,  the  waxed  tying  silk  being  used  for  the 
formation  of  the  body. 

Those  of  July  (Pale  Evening  White). — Body  a  little 
white  fur  spun  on  pale  buff- colored  silk.  Wings  the 
palest  part  of  a  young  starling's  wing  feather;  legs  a  pale 
dun  hackle. 

Pale  Evening  Dun. — Body,  yellow  martin's  fur,  spun 
sparingly  on  yellow  silk;  wings,  starling,  slightly  stained 
yellow;  legs,  a  brassy  dun  hackle.  A  pale  blue  hackle, 
stained  in  weak  yellow  dye,  forms  an  excellent  substitute. 

July  Dun. — Body,  blue  rabbit's  fur,  mixed  with  yellow 
mohair;  wings,  the  bluest  part  of  a  fieldfare's  wing, 
stained  slightly  yellow;  legs,  a  darkish  dun  hackle.  Ty- 
ing silk,  yellow. 


132  THE   SCIENTIFIC    ANGLER. 

The  Iron- Blue  Dun  Family  or  Order  may  be  dressed 
as  under: — 

For  April  and  May,  also  September  and  Octo- 
ber (Iron  Blue  Dun). — Body,  blue  fur  from  the  owl, 
spun  around  mulberry -colored  silk;  wings,  from  the  male 
merlin  hawk's  wing;  legs,  a  freckled  blue  dun  hackle, 
stained  slightly  by  brown  dye.  Tying  silk,  mauve.  For 
the  light  shade,  the  body  should  be  dressed  with  a  strip 
of  a  quill  feather,  stained  the  desired  hue,  or  the  tying 
silk  only  may  serve  for  the  purpose. 

August  and  September  (Little  Pale  Blue). — Body, 
a  small  portion  of  pale  blue  fur,  mixed  with  a  little  yel- 
low mohair,  spun  upon  pale  yellow  or  primrose-colored 
silk;  wings,  from  the  quill  feather,  or  from  the  small 
feathers  upon  the  knob  of  the  wings  of  the  sea-swallow — 
a  pair  of  the  latter  to  be  used  back-to-back;  legs,  a  pale 
dull  hackle. 

October  and  November  (October  Dun). — To  be 
dressed  from  same  material  as  the  shades  of  the  Olive 
Duns  for  April.  The  size  the  same  as  the  Iron  Blue,  and 
therefore  one-half  that  of  the  olive  order. 

General  Flies  (Red  Spinner). — Body,  copper-col- 
ored silk,  ribbed  w4th  round  gold  thread;  whisks,  three 
strands  from  a  red  feather  from  the  back  saddle  of  a 
game  cock;  legs,  fiery  brown  hackle,  from  the  neck  of 
the  same  bird;  wings,  from  an  old  starling's  end  quill. 

Dark  ditto  same  as  the  above,  but  the  floss  silk  for 
body,  and  the  hackle  for  legs,  should  be  a  shade  or  two 
darker,  the  latter  approaching  a  claret. 

Golden  ditto. — Body,  gold-colored  silk,  to  be  ribbed 
the  same  as  the  red  spinner;  legs,  sandy  hen's  hackle; 
wings,  fieldfare  quill. 

Jenny  Spinner. — This  is,  perhaps,  the  most  delicate 
fly  to  copy  correctly  of  the  whole  species  of  aerial  and 
aquatic  insects  that  become  food  for  fish.     "We  find  it 


ON   FLY   MAKING.  133 

kills  best  when  dressed  buzz  or  hacklewise.  The  body 
should  be  formed  with  floss  silk  of  two  shades,  the 
ground-work  being  white,  with  a  bright  crimson  band 
near  the  head  and  tail.  It  may  also  be  tied  with  crimson 
silk,  so  as  to  form  a  head  of  that  color.  The  hackle 
may  be  a  white  hen's,  or  a  small  white  feather  from  the 
knob  of  a  pigeon's  wing. 

The  first  three  shades  of  spinners  are  the  transforma- 
tion of  the  Olive  Dun  Order.  The  last  given  is  the 
metamorphosis  of  the  iron  blue. 

For  the  large  browns  (ephemeral)  the  following  are 
given : — 

For  March  and  April  (March  Brown). — Body,  fur 
from  the  back  of  a  hare's  neck,  spun  on  reddish  buff- 
colored  silk,  ribbed  with  fine  gold  twist;  tails,  two 
strands  of  a  feather  from  the  back  of  a  partridge;  legs, 
a  partridge's  neck  feather.  . 

For  May  and  June — (Light  shade,  commonly  known 
as  the  Turkey  brown). — Body,  light  drab  fur,  ribbed 
with  gold  twist;  wings,  light  partridge  quill;  legs,  grisly 
dun. 

For  August — (Commonly  termed  August  Dun). — 
Body,  to  be  tied  on,  or  dressed  with  ale  brown  silk, 
ribbed  with  yellow  silk;  wings,  from  a  cock  pheasant's 
wing  feather;  legs,  a  pale  dull  brown  cock's  hackle. 

We  now  come  to  the  May-fly,  or  Drake — the  Ephemeral 
series.  The  green  drake,  like  all  the  smaller  flies,  re- 
quires copying  accurately,  in  respect  to  the  most  minute 
detail.  As  we  elsewhere  pointed  out,  there  exists  no 
greater  diversity  amongst  the  imitations  of  any  particular 
fly,  than  is  the  case  with  this.  That  it  is  an  extremely 
difficult  one  to  dress,  we  readily  admit,  and  that  it  is 
quite  possible  to  copy  effectually  is  also  readily  conceded. 
But  to  suppose  that  much  more  than  one-third  the  im- 
mense varieties  of  patterns  manufactured  can  be  success- 


134  THE  SCIENTIFIC   AIS'GLER. 

ful  is  an  absurdity,  hence  it  is  they  are  so  frequently  dis- 
carded altogether,  the  live  fly  being  substituted.  But 
these  are  not  always  to  be  had,  even  upon  the  most  pro- 
lific waters,  therefore  a  good  artificial  proves  a  most  de- 
sirable auxiliary,  even  to  the  live-fly  fisher.  The  main 
point  to  direct  the  attention  of  the  artist,  is  the  choice  of 
material.  This  should  take  the  precedence  of  all  and 
everything  else  in  May-fly  making;  skill  in  constructing 
it  is  not  nearly  so  much  called  for  as  in  the  smaller  orders 
of  the  same  species.  Indeed,  it  may  be  affirmed  that 
the  drake,  owing  to  its  size,  is  comparatively  easy,  whilst 
the  smallest  ephemeral  insects  may  be  classed  amongst 
the  most  difficult.  The  fly-dresser  has  to  reproduce;  but, 
as  we  have  stated,  the  difficulty  lies  in  procuring  the 
material  requisite  for  a  good  artificial.  Dyed  mallard 
feathers  are  for  the  most  part  used  for  wings,  but  of  late 
years  natural  ones  have  been  largely  employed,  notably 
those  of  the  Egyptian  goose,  which  present  a  decided 
brown  tinge  to  the  eye,  but  when  held  up  to  the  light 
bear  a  much  nearer  resemblance  to  the  tint  of  the  natu- 
ral. For  our  part  we  may  say  that  for  several  seasons  we 
have  used  the  breast  and  side  feathers  of  the  Canadian 
wood  duck,  which,  even  when  looked  down  upon,  strik- 
ingly favors  the  peculiar  green-yellow  tinge  of  nature's 
original;  and  when  viewed  from  beneath,  and  compared 
with  the  genuine  thing,  the  beholder  cannot  fail  to  ap- 
preciate the  similarity.  The  material  to  be  employed  in 
the  construction  of  the  body  determines,  more  than  any- 
thing else,  the  floating  powers  of  the  fly.  Wheaten 
straw,  when  rightly  tinted,  is  the  best  substance  to  be 
employed.  This  should  be  well  secured  at  each  extrem- 
ity, and  a  hollow  left  in  the  middle  of  the  body.  Red- 
brown  colored  silk  should  be  used  to  bind  and  form  the 
ribs  of  this.  The  whisks  should  be  three  strands  of  a 
partridge's  tail  feather;  the  rabbit's  whiskers  usually 
used  act  very  detrimentally  as  regards  hooking  the  fish. 


ON^   FLY   MAKING.  135 

whicli,  as  they  essay  to  lay  hold  of  the  fly  at  the  tail,  are 
foiled  in  a  measure  by  the  undue  stiffness  of  the  head 
feelers  of  the  animal,  which  cannot  be  said  to  have  been 
designed  to  grace  the  tail  of  anything.  As  regards  legs, 
these  in  a  floating  fly  should  be  ample  and  full;  a  freck- 
led breast  feather  of  a  ginger  hue,  entwined  with  a  cock's 
honey  dun  hackle,  is  a  combination  that  answers  remark- 
ably well.  The  fly  above  described  we  have  found  so 
successful  and  recommended  it  so  strongly,  that  it  has 
been  dubbed  "Foster's  Favorite"  by  the  many  who  now 
advocate  its  use.  The  gray  or  black  transformation  of 
the  green  drake  may  be  rendered  as  follows: — Widgeon 
or  dark  mallard's  feather,  dyed  pale  slate  color;  body, 
white  straw  put  on  as  above,  ribbed  with  dark  mulberry- 
colored  silk;  legs,  two  dun  cock's  hackles,  these  may  be 
dressed  from  shoulders  to  tail;  whisks,  three  strands  of  a 
black  cock's  saddle  feather. 

Green  Drake. — Body,  straw-colored  mohair,  ribbed 
with  gold  twist;  wings,  from  a  mallard's  mottled  feather, 
slightly  dyed  yellow;  legs,  honey-dun  cock's  hackle;  the 
head  of  the  fly  to  be  formed  with  copper-colored  silk. 
To  make  this  fly  buzz,  a  mottled  feather  from  a  mallard, 
stained  as  above. 

For  the  gray  copy,  we  give  the  following: — 

Gray  Drake. — Body,  white  floss  silk,  ribbed  with  silver 
twist,  tied  on  with  brown  silk;  tails  may  be  made  from 
hair  from  under  the  jaws  of  a  brown  horse;  wings,  mot- 
tled feather  from  the  mallard ;  legs,  a  dark  dun  or  black 
cock's  hackle.  To  make  this  fly  buzz,  a  dark  mottled 
feather  from  the  mallard.  This  fly  may  be  used  with 
success  from  six  o'clock  until  twilight. 

For  the  Dark  Mackerel. — Body,  copper-colored  mo- 
hair, ribbed  with  gold  twist;  wings,  from  the  brown 
mottled  feather  of  a  mallard;  tails  may  be  got  from  under 
the  jaws  of  a  brown  horse;  legs,  a  dark  mulberry-colored 
stained  cock's  hackle. 


136  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER, 

To  take  the  various  species  of  flies  in  their  proper 
order,  we  come  next  to  the  PhryganeidcB  order,  which 
ranges  as  follows: — 

February  Red,  or  Red  fly. — The  body  of  this  fly  is 
dubbed  with  dark-brown  mohair,  mixed  with  claret- 
colored  mohair ;  wings,  from  the  hen  pheasant,  or  dot- 
terel wing  feather  ;  legs,  dark-brown  feather  from  a  pale 
partridge's  neck,  or  a  cock's  hackle  of  the  same  color. 

Sand  fly. — Body,  fur  from  the  back  of  a  hare's  neck 
spun  sparingly  on  pale  orange  silk;  legs,  a  pale  dull- 
colored  ginger  hackle;  wing,  from  a  landrail's  wing 
feather. 

Cinnamon  fly. — Body,  fur  from  a  hare's  neck,  mixed 
with  a  small  portion  of  sable  fur,  spun  on  pale  dull 
orange-colored  silk  ;  wings,  from  a  brown  hen's  wing 
feather ;  legs,  a  pale  dull  ginger-colored  cock's  hackle. 

Gr annum,  or  Greentail. — Body,  fur  from  the  hare's 
neck,  spun  on  fawn-colored  silk,  with  two  laps  of  green 
floss-silk  on  the  tail;  legs,  a  pale  ginger-hackle;  wings, 
the  palest  part  of  a  hen  pheasant's  wing  feather. 

The  above  being  what  are  usually  termed  flat-wings, 
should  be  dressed  as  in  the  old  method,  i.e.,  wings  last, 
so  as  to  resemble  the  naturals. 

The  Perlidm  order  ranks  next.  Some  of  these  it  is 
best  not  to  wing  at  all ;  the  dun  hackle  from  the  knobs 
of  wings  of  various  birds  forming  an  excellent  substitute 
for  legs  and  wings  when  carefully  wound  on  like  an  or- 
dinary hackle. 

Stone  fly. — Body,  dark-colored  fur,  spun  with  full  yel- 
low silk,  to  be  ribbed  with  some  silk  of  same  color,  un- 
waxed ;  wings,  from  the  quill- wing  feather  of  a  cock 
pheasant,  or  may  be  cut  from  a  sheet  of  gutta-percha 
(pure),  dyed  in  cold  blue  dye  ;  legs,  a  black  cock's  hackle 
stained  yellow ;  this,  if  rightly  made  will  form  an  excel- 


OHi   FLY   MAKIi^G.  137 

lent  artificial  fly,  not  to  be  excelled  by  any  combination 
of  feathers  and  fur  alone. 

Willow  fly. — Body,  water  rat's  fur  spun  sparingly  on 
yelloAv  silk ;  legs  and  wings  made  buzz,  from  a  dark  dun 
hackle,  with  a  brownish  tint  in  it,  or  a  small  dark  feather 
from  the  merlin  hawk's  wing. 

Needle  fly. — Body,  sable  fur  spun  upon  yellow  silk, 
dressed  hackle  with  small  brown  feather  from  the  knob 
of  a  fieldfare's  wing.  This  fly  may  be  formed  by  a  strip 
of  the  enamelled  quill  of  a  peacock's  feather,  which  forms 
the  alternate  shades  of  ribs  beautifully.  This  has  been 
introduced  by  a  clever  southern  angler. 

Yellow  Sally. — This  should  never  be  dressed  winged; 
it  falls  upon  the  water  as  a  heavy  beetle  would  be  sup- 
posed to  do,  therefore  the  wings  not  being  extended  are 
not  seen  by  the  fish.  The  most  killing  way  is  to  hackle 
it  palmerwise,  with  a  white  hen's  hackle  dyed  light  yel- 
low, or  by  the  small  feather  round  a  white  pigeon's  wing, 
stained  as  above  ;  the  body  to  be  yellow  mohair. 

The  casual  killers  amongst  the  land  flies  may  be  dressed 
as  under: — 

The  Cowdung  fly. — To  be  dressed  or  tied  on  with  pale 
dun  orange-colored  silk;  body,  yellow  lamb's  wool,  mixed 
with  a  little  green  mohair;  wings,  from  a  landrail's  wing 
feather;  legs,  pale  dull  ginger-colored  hackle. 

Oah  fly,  or  Down-looTcer. — Body,  pale  orange  floss  silk, 
tied  on  with  pale  lead-colored  silk;  wings  from  the  wood- 
lark's  wing  feather;  legs,  a  furnace  hackle. 

Marlow  Buzz,  CocJi-y-londu,  of  Wales. — Body,  peacock 
herl,  hackle  with  bright  furnace  feather.  The  red  tag 
(fancy  fly)  is  formed  by  the  simple  addition  of  a  red  tag, 
or  tuft  of  wool  or  feather  at  the  tail. 

Brown  Palmer,  Bracken'' s  Clock. — Body,  black  ostrich 
herl,  ribbed  with  round  gold  twist,  hackled  with  red 
cock's  hackle  stained. 


138  THE   SCIEN^TIFIC   ANGLER. 

Blue  Bottle,  or  Beef  Eater. — Body,  light  blue  floss 
silk,  ribbed  over  with  black  ostrich  herl  and  silver  twist, 
tied  on  with  brown  silk;  wings,  from  an  old  starling's 
wing  feather;  legs,  a  black  hackle. 

Wrentail. — Body,  amber-colored  floss  silk,  or  ginger- 
colored  fur  from  a  hare's  neck,  ribbed  with  gold  twist; 
legs  and  wings  made  buzz  from  a  wren's  tail  feather. 

Red  Ant. — To  be  tied  or  dressed  with  orange-colored 
silk,  which  may  be  shown  at  the  tail;  body,  copper-colored 
peacock's  herl;  legs,  a  red  cock's  hackle;  wings,  from  a 
redwing's  feather. 

Black  Ant. — To  be  tied  on  or  dressed  with  pale  dull 
fawn-colored  silk,  which  may  be  shown  at  the  tail;  body, 
black  rabbit's  fur,  well  mixed  with  copper-colored  mo- 
hair; legs,  a  dark  furnace  hackle. 

Black  Gnat. — Body,  ostrich  herl;  wings,  from  a  starl- 
ing's wing  feather;  legs,  a  dark  blue  dun,  or  black 
hackle. 

Gray  Gnat. — Body,  gray  mohair,  or  wool  hackle,  with 
sea-swallow  feather. 

Red  Palmer,  or  Caterpillar. — Body,  copper-colored 
peacock's  herl,  tied  with  brown  silk,  ribbed  with  gold 
twist,  a  bright  brown  red-stained  cock's  hackle,  having  a 
gold-color  when  held  between  the  eye  and  the  light. 

The  Alexandra  fly. — Body,  flat  silver  twist  hackled 
with  bright  feather  of  green  or  blue  hue,  from  the  neck 
of  a  peacock;  wings  (if  any)  from  the  turkey's  wing. 

How  to  dress  a  simple  Hackle : — 

The  first  effort  of  the  fly-making  aspirant  should  be 
expended  upon  the  wingless  artificials;  of  these  there  are 
two  kinds,  the  plain  Hackle  and  the  Palmer;  the  former 
is  the  best  to  commence  with,  it  being  the  easiest  to 
make;  but  before  attempting  to  describe  the  method,  we 
would  remind  our  readers  that  there  is  a  vast  distinction 
between  practical  and  verbal  teachings.     Observation  in 


OK   FLY   MAKING.  139 

these  matters  is  superior,  as  a  source  for  conveying 
knowledge,  to  reading;  therefore,  where  available,  a  few 
lessons  from  a  proficient  will  be  found  highly  beneficial. 

The  process  of  forming  the  body  for  a  Hackle  fly  is 
not  identical  with  the  same  operation  in  the  winged  one. 
In  the  construction  of  the  latter,  a  small  portion  of  the 
shank  of  the  hook  itself  is  left  bare  to  fix  the  wings 
upon,  to  thereby  form  the  head  neatly.  This,  however, 
is  formed,  to  begin  in  the  case  of  the  buzzy  or  hackle  fly, 
by  a  few  turns  of  the  silk  at  the  extremity  of  the  shank; 
a  little  blank  is  then  left  for  the  hackle  to  fit  or  fill  in; 
the  body  is  then  to  be  formed  m  the  usual  way.  This 
completed,  the  hackle  feather  must  be  taken  in  hand, 
first  having  been  stripped  of  its  downy  surplus  fibres,  the 
root  of  the  stem  is  secured  by  a  couple  of  turns  of  the 
tying  silk  at  the  shoulder  of  the  fly.  The  hackle  thus 
secured  at  its  lower  extremity,  is  ready  for  fitting  in.  Its 
point  is  then  to  be  taken  hold  of  with  the  tweezers,  and 
two  or  more  turns  of  the  feather  given;  the  end  is  then 
to  be  secured  by  a  turn  or  two  of  the  silk,  the  invisible 
knot  formed,  and  the  fly  is  made,  wanting  only  the  silk 
end  to  be  cut  carefully  away  to  complete  the  thing.  The 
Palmer  is  artificial  that  is  hackled  from  head  to  tail,  such 
as  the  bumbles,  caterpillars,  etc.  The  process  of  body 
making  is  identical,  in  this  instance,  with  the  hackle  fly 
just  detailed,  except  a  little  addition  in  the  shape  of  herl, 
a  strand  of  which  is  wound  around  the  gut  and  silk,  the 
feather  being  turned  over  this,  and  the  bit  of  tinsel  or 
silk,  by  way  of  ribbing,  going  over  the  whole,  for  the 
sake  of  both  use  and  ornament. 

We  append  a  few  dressings  for  the  various  bumbles  and 
palmers,  which,  though  in  some  instances  deemed  fancy 
flies,  are  often  good  killers. 

Burrible,  ordinary. — Hackle,  white  hen's,  slightly  stained 
blue;  body,  peacock  herl,  ribbed  with  orange  and  puce- 
colored  silk  (floss);  tying  silk,  brown. 


140  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLEE. 

Mulberry  Bumble. — Hackle,  dun  hen's;  body,  peacock 
herl,  ribbed  with  mulberry-coldred  floss  silk;  tying  silk, 
claret. 

Red  BumUe,  or  Earwig. — Hackle,  red  cock's,  stained; 
body,  peacock  herl,  ribbed  with  gold  silk;  tying  silk, 
dark  brown. 

Honey  dun  Bumble. — Hackle,  honey  dun  hen's;  body, 
peacock  herl,  ribbed  with  orange  floss  silk;  tying  silk, 
yellow. 

Furnace  Bumble. — Hackle,  furnace  cock's;  body,  pea- 
cock; or  black  herl,  ribbed  with  dark  orange  silk;  tying 
silk,  red  brown. 

Black  Palmer. — Hackle,  black  cock's,  ribbed  with  fine 
silver  twist;  tying  silk,  black. 

Golden  Palmer. — Hackle,  bright  furnace;  body,  pea- 
cock herl,  ribbed  with  gold  twist. 

Gray  Palmer. — Hackle,  cock's,  with  black  centre  and 
whitish  gray  edge,  ribbed  with  fine  round  silver  tinsel ; 
tying  silk,  black. 

A  variety  of  palmers  may  be  made  by  intermixing  the 
materials  here  given  for  the  particular  shades. 

Salmok  Flies. — In  the  construction  of  these  there 
exists  a  grand  distinction.  The  taste  and  fancy  of  the 
operator  are  called  into  request,  and  nothing  in  nature 
demands  his  study  and  attention  more.  A  happy  com- 
bination and  contrast  of  various  hues  and  colors,  from 
sombre  to  brilliant,  are  the  main  object. 

Salmon  are  extremely  effeminate  in  the  love  of  finery 
and  tinsel,  especially  in  the  case  of  habitually  discolored 
waters.  There  are  rivers  upon  which  flies  of  a  more 
sombre  hue  than  the  general  run  are  used;  but  the 
bright  and  brilliant  combination  is  found  irresistible, 
more  or  less,  wherever  salmon  are  to  be  found,  when  they 
are  in  a  mood  for  rising  and  gambolling.  The  great 
thing  to  keep  in  the  mind's  eye  when  choosing  or  con- 


OK   FLY   MAKING.  141 

structing  a  salmon  fly,  is  the  shine  through  the  feathers, 
wool,  mohair,  etc.,  when  held  above  the  head,  and  thus 
viewed  from  beneath. 

Some  dressings  are  almost  of  one  universal  dull  shade, 
or  no  shade  at  all,  when  held  in  the  posture  seen  by  the 
fish;  others  will  have  the  color  rightly  seen  shmmg 
through  in  a  few  patches;  but  the  correct  thing  is  to  get 
the  whole  of  the  legs,  tail,  and  body  to  shine  brilliantly 
through,  as  well  as  when  looked  down  upon,  and  the 
fault  will  be  not  of  the  fly  if  it  be  refused  by  the  fish. 
The  materials  used  for  salmon  flies  are  especially  picked 
with  a  view  to  their  effect  when  seen  from  below;  as  for 
instance,  the  hard-to-be-procured  pig's  wool,  which  for 
transparency  of  shade  stands  well  nigh  unequalled;  also 
mohair,  which,  though  of  finer  texture,  possesses  the 
same  characteristics.  These,  when  well  placed  upon  the 
hook  shank,  shine  most  effectively  when  wet,  and  viewed 
from  below.  Another  feature  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
salmon  fly,  the  enormously  large,  and  in  many  cases 
heavy  hook,  has  to  be  floated  as  long  as  it  is  possible, 
and  that  in  a  right  position.  The  old  arrangement  was 
best  calculated  to  meet  this  diflBculty,  large  wings  being 
attached  so  as  to  preserve  the  side  posture  of  the  lure  as 
it  rested  upon  the  water. 

We  give  a  few  odd  salmon  flies  for  general  use,  that 
are  not  at  present  generally  known.  Prefixed  to  these 
are  a  few  of  those  most  commonly  In  use: — The  Spanker, 
the  Kob  Roy,  the  Spartan,  the  Tam  o'  Shanter,  and  the 
Mac  Sporren. 

Description  of  the  Spanher.—TsLg,  flat  single  tinsel  and 
cerise  floss  silk;  tail,  golden  pheasant's  topping;  a  few 
strands  of  scarlet  flamingo's  quill  feather;  body,  orange, 
light  and  dark,  and  cerise  floss  silk  bound  over  an  old 
cock's  hackle  stained  slightly  sky-blue,  the  latter  being 
palmered  from  the  head  to  the  tail,  another  of  these 
forming  legs;  wings,  turkey,  with  several  side  strands  of 


142  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

argus  pheasant  wing  feathers,  and  red,  yellow,  and  puce- 
colored  feelers  or  strands. 

The  Roh  Roy. — Tag,  gold  (flat)  and  orange  floss  silk; 
body,  orange  mohair,  graduating  through  fiill  and  dark 
orange  to  dull  red;  legs,  guinea-fowl  neck  feather, 
stained  yellow,  and  a  black  cock's  hackle,  also  stained 
yellow  wings,  black  turkey  feather;  side  feathers,  jungle 
cock's  hackle;  streamers,  yellow  and  red;  head,  black 
ostrich  herl 

The  Spartan. — Tag,  gold  (round),  white  floss  silk  and 
peacock  herl;  tail,  three  strands  from  a  green  feather 
from  the  neck  of  a  peacock,  and  a  few  strands  of  yellow 
and  scarlet  lucan  breast  and  neck  feathers;  body,  hackled 
with  claret  stained  hackle,  wound  over  with  gold  twist 
(heavy  round)  and  bright-colored  silk;  legs,  dark  blue 
hackle,  and  guinea-fowl  feather  over  all;  wings,  golden 
pheasant's  tail  feather,  ditto  neck  or  tippet  feathers  for 
sides,  blue  chatterer's  over  all;  head,  peacock's  herl. 

The  Tarn  o'  Shanter. — Tag,  red  silk  silver  twist  (round); 
tail,  a  few  yellow  and  red  spires  of  macaw  feathers,  helped 
with  a  few  strands  of  blue  or  green  peacock's  neck 
feather;  body,  pig's  wool,  navy  blue,  with  broad  flat  sil- 
ver twist;  legs,  rich  fiery  brown  hackle;  wings,  bustard 
feather;  sides  of  ditto,  American  wood  duck  feather;  a 
few  strands  of  argus  pheasant's  dark  feather  to  be  also 
added  in  larger  flies. 

The  Mac  Sporren. — Tag,  flat  silver,  and  blue  silk. 
Body,  fiery  brown  pig's  wool  ribbed  with  round  gold 
twist;  legs,  orange  and  purple,  hackled  (stained);  wings, 
golden  pheasant,  red  sides  tail  feathers;  toppings,  large 
strands  of  albatross  wing  feather;  streamers  red  and 
green  over  all,  kingfisher's  feathers,  or  blue  chatterer. 

The  following  are  well-known  dressings: — 

Joch  Scott. — Tag,  gold  twist;  tail,  one  golden  pheasant 
topping,  and  Indian  crow  feather;  body  in  two  parts; 


ox   FLY   MAKIXQ.  143 

head,  part  black  floss  silk,  with  silver  twist  and  palmered 
black  hackle;  tail  ditto,  gold  colored;  at  each  joint  are 
tied  several  toucan  points,  these  being  backed  up  by  two 
turns  of  black  herl.  For  wings,  white  tipped  turkey 
feather  fibres  of  pintail  bustard,  brown  mallard,  with  one 
long  topping,  and  yellow,  red,  and  green  streamers  over 
all,  a  jungle  cock  on  either. 

The  Butcher. — Tag,  gold  twist  and  orange  floss;  tail,  a 
single  topping  of  golden  pheasant,  with  band  of  black 
ostrich  herl;  body,  alternate  turns  of  red  and  full  blue, 
either  mohair  or  pig's  wool,  broad  silver  tinsel,  palmered 
with  claret  hackle;  wing,  mixture  of  brown  mallard, 
bustard,  peacock  wing,  wood-duck,  golden  pheasant  tip- 
pet and  rump  feathers;  streamers,  blue  and  yellow  over 
all;  head,  black  ostrich  herl. 

The  Doctor. — Tag,  scarlet  silk  and  fine  gold  twist; 
tail,  one  topping;  body,  light  blue  floss  silk,  palmered 
With  medium  blue  hackle,  broad  silver  tinsel  and  twist; 
legs,  blue  hackle,  with  brown  grouse  or  partridge  over 
all;  wing,  argus  pheasant's,  brown  turkey,  and  bustard; 
streamers,  yellow,  blue,  and  claret;  black  herled  head. 

The  Shannon. — Tag,  gold  tinsel,  and  lemon-colored 
silk;  tail,  scarlet  ibis  or  flamingo,  two  toppings,  and  blue 
macaw,  black  ostrich  band;  body,  alternate  colored  silks, 
beginning  at  the  tail  end,  pale  blue,  full  orange,  violet 
and  medium  green,  the  alternate  colors  being  set  off  by  a 
hackle  of  the  same  shade,  also  ribbed  with  ostrich  herl 
dyed  same  color  as  alternate  joints;  wings,  two  yellow 
macaw  feathers,  black-centered  (usually),  a  single  strip  of 
dark  argus  pheasant  on  either  side,  also  a  few  fibres  of 
golden  pheasant  tippet,  two  small  blue  chatterer's 
feathers,  and  two  large  toppings  over  all;  legs,  fiery 
brown  feather,  black  head. 

Blacker^ s  Gaudy  Fly. — Tail,  two  slips  of  brown  mal- 
lard, and  one  topping  or  crest  feather  (golden  pheasant); 


144  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

tag,  gold  orange  floss  and  ostrich  herl;  body,  one-third 
crimson,  palmered  Avith  black  hackle,  one-third  scarlet, 
with  scarlet  hackle,  finish  the  body  with  crimson  and 
scarlet  hackle  over  it;  wings,  well  mottled  red  and  black 
turkey,  feather  off  golden  pheasant's  back  under  it; 
streamers,  red  and  blue;  legs,  guinea-fowl  feather;  head, 
ostrich  herl. 

The  Rai7ibow. — Tail,  light  greenfeather,  pheasant's 
topping,  few  fibres  of  bright  green  feathers ;  tag,  flat, 
gold  ;  body,  pig's  wool,  graduating  from  bright  yellow 
through  orange,  scarlet,  to  purple,  and  broad  gold  tinsel; 
wings,  two  toppings  and  two  jungle  cock's  hackles,  and 
two  mottled  feathers  from  under  snipe's  wing;  streamers, 
crimson;  legs,  blue  and  brown  hackles. 

Tlie  Spey  Dog. — Black  pig's  wool  body,  sparingly  rib- 
bed with  broad  silver  tinsel,  to  be  palmered  with  black- 
cock saddle  or  side-tail  feather,  the  thick  end  of  hackle 
terminating  at  tail  end  of  fly ;  in  addition  to  the  flat 
silver  tinsel,  gold  of  half  the  width  is  also  run  from  head 
to  tail ;  wings,  golden  pheasant  tail ;  left  bushy,  and  a 
few  fibres  of  brown  mallard,  to  be  shouldered  with  a  teal 
hackle. 

The  Parson. — Tail,  two  toppings,  and  a  few  fibres  of 
peacock's  blue  neck  feathers  ;  tag,  silver  tinsel  and  full 
red  floss  ;  body,  a  turn  or  two  of  golden  floss,  then  orange 
pig's  wool  shading  gradually  darker  up  body,  ribbed  with 
silver  twist,  palmered  with  orange  hackle ;  legs,  hackle 
of  dark  shade  ;  wings,  two  golden  pheasant  tippet  feath- 
ers, two  pairs  of  toppings,  wood-duck  and  turkey  on 
either  side. 

The  Ranger. — Tag,  silver  twist  and  gold-colored  floss 
silk ;  tail,  red  breast-feather  of  golden  pheasant,  and  a 
topping  footed  with  two  turns  of  black  ostrich ;  body, 
fiery  brown  pig's  wool  one-half,  remainder  pale  blue  ditto, 
to  be  palmered  with  blue  hackle  ;  legs,  wood-duck  hackle 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT  AND   GRAYLING.  145 

from  under  wing  ;  wings,  two  tippets,  a  couple  of  jungle 
cock's  hackles,  with  a  topping  over  all. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


FLY  FISHING  FOR  TROUT  AND  GRAYLING.* 

ATTRACTIONS  OF  SURFACE  FISHING;  THE  ROD,  LINE,  AND  WINCH; 
CASTING,  STRIKING,  PLAYING,  AND  LANDING  ;  THE  WET  AND 
DRY  FLY  SYSTEMS ;  BROOK  FISHING  ;  METEOROLOGICAL  EF- 
FECTS ON  SPORT  ;   NIGHT  FISHING  ;   THE  DOVE. 

The  superiority  of  the  art  of  Fly-fishing  over  all  other 
systems  of  angling  is  universally  acknowledged.  The 
ever-exciting  nature  of  surface  fishing  adds  a  zest  to  the 
sport,  unknown  to  the  other  branches  of  the  art  pisca- 
torial. The  high  pitch  of  expectation  experienced  as  the 
rising  fish  daintily  *^  plop  "off  the  insects  around,  ex- 
tends a  highly  exhilarating  influence  over  both  mind  and 
body.  The  whole  of  the  faculties  are  thus  concentrated 
in  one  focus,  ever  stimulating  to  still  greater  earnestness 
and  efficiency.  It  is  owing  to  these  characteristics,  this 
scope  for  science  and  skill,  that  this  sport  is  and  has 
been  the  chosen  recreation  of  men  of  the  greatest  celeb- 
rity and  the  highest  attainments  of  modern  times.  Since 
the  time  of  Walton  the  angler's  skill  has  advanced  won- 
drously,  whilst  keenness  of  perception  and  wariness  have 
developed  amongst  the  denizens  of  the  liquid  element  in 
a  degree  quite  proportionate.  The  well  educated  inhab- 
itants of  the  classic  streams  of  the  Midlands  and  of  the 
south,  the  former  clear  from  the  limestone  district  of  the 

*  We  commend  this  chapter  to  the  careful  reading  of  American 
anglers. 

7 


146  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

Peak,  and  the  latter  pure  from  chalk  districts,  require 
no  small  proficiency  and  tact  to  secure  even  moderate 
sport  generally  ;  nevertheless  the  accomplished  fly-fisher 
can  usually  manage  to  bag  a  respectable  dish,  even  under 
circumstances  adverse  to  sport.  On  the  other  hand  we 
have  a  multiplicity  of  trouting  streams  and  brooks,  espe- 
cially those  north  of  the  Tweed,  whose  fish  are  in  a 
manner  unsophisticated,  and  comparatively  unacquainted 
with  the  wiles  of  man.  Amongst  these  the  young  student, 
on  commencing  operations,  will  do  well  to  make  a  selec- 
tion. The  adept  at  flying  for  trout,  when  at  work  in 
real  earnest  upon  the  banks  of  a  well-stocked  stream,  is 
a  striking  figure,  exemplary  of  the  true  fisherman.  The 
gracefully  erect  though  expectant  attitude,  the  latter  as- 
sumed upon  the  delivery  of  the  fly,  the  slender  pliable 
rod,  the  long  floating  line  and  gossamer  gut,  combine  to 
constitute  an  ideal  rodster.  Before  entermg  fully  on  the 
details  of  the  subject,  we  would  jot  down  a  few  brief  m- 
structions  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  novice,  who,  as- 
piring to  proficiency,  must  be  prepared  to  acquire  expe- 
rience at  some  cost ;  and  our  object  is  to  reduce  that  cost 
as  much  as  possible. 

The  first  consideration  that  should  engage  the  atten- 
tion of  the  tyro  is  throwing  or  casting ;  and  after  that 
has  been  well  practised  and  a  ten  or  twelve  yards  cast 
can  be  neatly  made,  he  may  essay  striking  and  playing. 
Dace  or  Perch  in  the  summer  months  afford  ample  scope 
for  the  acquirement  of  these  accomplishments.  It  is  the 
determined  will  to  succeed  that  attains  its  object ;  and 
when  the  resolve  is  once  taken  there  is  the  immediate 
response  of  the  will  to  the  perceptive  powers  seen  in  the 
discernment  of  a  rise,  and  at  once,  and  without  delay, 
the  quarry  is  successfully  struck.  "Well  do  we  remember 
our  first  take  with  the  fly  ;  filled  with  the  ardor  natural 
to  youth  we  were  foolish  enough  to  resolve  to  effect  a 
capture  prior  to  quitting  the  river's  brim.     All  the  day 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT  AND   GRAYLING.  147 

we  flogged  and  fished,  the  result  being  simply  nil;  ten, 
twelve,  and  thirteen  hours  passed  away  without  so  much 
as  moving  a  fin.  The  summer  twilight  set  in,  shadowing 
the  outlines  of  the  surrounding  landscape.  Still  our  res- 
olution was  firm,  and  in  keeping  with  a  set  purpose  we 
presented  the  lure  more  gently,  and  with  greater  preci- 
sion upon  the  edge  of  the  shadows  caused  by  the  rising 
moon,  where  the  heavy  ^switching'  sound,  repeated  at 
short  intervals,  proclaimed  the  daily  dinner  hour  of  a 
veteran.  After  casting  for  some  time  directly  over 
him,  we  finally  hooked  the  fish.  As  we  had  had  the 
discretion  to  fit  up  a  strong  collar  *  to  carry  the  large  fly 
employed,  we  had  very  little  difificulty  in  landing  our 
quarry,  which  was  afterwards  found  to  measure  seventeen 
inches  in  length,  and  nine  and  one-half  inches  in  girth, 
scaling  two  and  three-quarters  pounds,  a  venerable  mons- 
ter in  truth  to  our  boyish  eyes. 

Care  and  patience  in  execution  are  required,  after  the 
rudiments  of  the  art  have  been  acquired;  a  non-observance 
of  these  is  sure  to  materially  interfere  with  sport.  Per- 
severance is  all  very  well  in  its  place,  but  when  unaided 
by  the  exercise  of  due  care  and  tact  m  presenting  the 
lure,  it  will  meet  with  small  result.  The  tyro  should 
therefore  practice  assiduously,  ever  bearing  in  mind  that 
much  as  he  may  admire  and  aspire  to  a  nearer  acquaint- 
ance with  the  scaly  beauties,  they  are  coy  and  ungrateful. 
The  instant  they  become  aware  of  his  paying  them  the 
least  attention,  they  move  contemptuously  away;  and  no 
matter  how  lovingly  he  drops  them  a  line,  all  further 
correspondence  is  thanklessly  declined.  It  behooves  him 
therefore  to  keep  out  of  sight  as  much  as  possible,  never 
allowing  the  sun  to  extend  his  shadow  across  the  stream, 
always  also  avoiding  conspicuously  bright  clothing;  for 
notwithstanding  the  naturalist's  persistent  assertions  as 

*  The  collar,  castinoj  line,  lash  or  point  are  names  indiscriminately 
used  in  England  to  designate  the  leader— so  called  in  the  United  States. 


148  THE  SCIEN^TIFIO   ANGLER. 

to  the  dullness  of  the  ej'cs  of  fish,  owing,  it  is  afiirmed, 
to  the  skin  of  the  head  covering  the  pupil  of  the  eye, 
the  trout  fisher  knows  very  well  that  in  their  own  ele- 
ment they  habitually  exercise  the  most  keen  and  dis- 
criminating powers  of  vision,  when  the  water  is  clear; 
and  any  moving  or  brightly-colored  objects  outside  it 
attract  their  attention.*  In  order  to  deal  comprehen- 
sively with  our  subject,  for  the  more  especial  edification 
of  the  tyro,  we  shall  proceed  to  allude  in  detail  to  the 
leading  items  already  referred  to  as  being:  essential  to 
success,  viz. :  —Casting  the  Fly,  Playing  or  Landing,  and 
Killing  a  Fish.  Before  doing  so,  however,  the  necessary 
appliances  must  engage  our  attention. 

The  EoD,  Eeel  and  Lin"E  should  be  well  adapted  to 
act  perfectly  and  in  concert  with  each  other.  We  have 
already  pointed  out  the  inconvenience  and  disaster  arising 
from  the  common  practice  of  employing  implements  to- 
tally incapable  of  working  together  evenly.  The  intending 
purchaser  most  frequently  considers  what  is  the  strength, 
length  or  thickness  of  line  required  for  some  specified 
water  or  fish,  and  not  for  a  particular  rod.  The  rod 
forms  the  first  subject  of  attention;  the  winch,  or  reel 
and  line  being  next  chosen,  w4th  a  view  to  the  harmoni- 
ous working  of  the  whole,  the  reel  to  balance,  and  the 
line  to  suit  the  '^play  "  of  the  tool.  This  is  of  the  most 
vital  importance.  Fly-rods  are  made  of  many  different 
woods  and  dimensions.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact,  how- 
ever, that  during  the  two  centuries  that  have  elapsed 
since  Cotton  first  wrote  upon  what  afterwards  developed 

*I  have  always  been  under  the  impression  that  it  was  not  the  sub- 
stance of  our  presence,  but  the  shadow  of  it,  that  startled  the  fish;  that 
when  fishing  with  the  sun's  rays  full  on  our  front,  and  even  on  dark, 
cloudy  days,  our  body  and  moving  rod-arm,  although  throwing  no 
shadow  upon  the  water  visible  to  the  human  eye,  were  reflected  upon 
the  stream  to  an  extent  appreciable  and  alarming  to  the  fish,  indicating 
to  them  an  unusual  condition  of  affairs  that  boded  no  good  and  placed 
them  upon  their  guard. 


FLY   FISHING   FOR   TROUT   Ai^D   GRAYLING.  149 

into  the  most  artistic  and  scientific  branch  of  angling, 
the  length  of  the  fly-rod  has  diminished  by  more  than 
one-half.  Notwithstanding  this  diminution  of  size,  and 
we  may  also  add  of  weight,  the  casting  powers  of  the 
rodster  have  been  so  much  augmented,  that  almost  dou- 
ble the  distance  may  now  be  neatly  covered  by  the  adult 
adept  than  was  effected  with  the  unwieldy  weapons  of 
our  forefathers.*  The  propelling  power  of  the  fly-rod 
depends  largely  upon  the  material  of  which  it  is  con- 
structed, t  The  fine-grained  woods  of  the  tropics  exceed 
our  own  in  point  of  strength,  durability,  and  weight- 
sustaining  powers. 

The  following  are  the  materials  and  dimensions  of  a 
really  serviceable  fly-rod  for  small  stream  fishing: — Three 
joints  or  parts,  each  three  feet  six  inches,  the  butt  to 
consist  of  hickory  or  washaba,  the  middle  joint  of  best 
washaba,  greenheart,  or  blue  mahoo,  the  top  of  snake- 
wood,  or  best  jungle  cane,  the  whole  being  ten  feet  six 
inches.  The  ferrule  at  the  top  of  the  butt  should  be 
Yjpth  of  an  inch  inside;  the  one  at  the  top  of  the  middle 
joint  one-quarter  of  an  inch.  The  actual  weight  of  a  rod 
of  this  description  will  be  small.  J 

The  points  to  receive  attention  are  strength  and  plia- 
bility; a  combination  of  these  forms  the  perfect  casting- 
rod;  and  the  more  these  qualities  are  exemplified  in  a 
rod,  the  greater  the  distance  to  be  covered  by  it,  and  that 


*  The  Casting  at  the  Tournament  held  in  New  York  City  in  1882  at- 
tests the  truth  of  the  statement  in  the  text. 

tThis  dictum  of  our  author  will  be  forcibly  "backed  up  "  by  every 
manufacturer  on  both  continents.  Makers  of  rods  of  split-bamboo, 
greenheart,  lancewood,  Bethabara,  hornbeam,  et.  al.,  are  of  one  accord, 
at  least,  on  this  point. 

X  The  proper  and  standard  weight  of  the  rod  is  rated  in  England  at 
one  ounce  to  each  foot — ^ten  feet,  ten  ounces. 


150  THE   SCIENTIFIC  ANGLER. 

with  perfect  precision.  With  a  view  to  extend  in  the 
direction  here  indicated,  we  have  made  many  experiments 
with  metal  and  wood  of  every  variety,  as  also  with  other 
substances  of  pliancy  and  strength.  Metal,  either  hollow 
or  solid,  is  too  heavy  and  cumbersome;  vv'ood  of  green- 
heart,  red  locust,  snake,  and  other  descriptions,  proves 
strong  and  pliant,  and  is  so  when  spliced,  like  the  mast  of 
a  ship,  or  similar  to  the  glued-uj?  American  cane  rods;  but 
there  is  no  especial  advantage  to  commend  them,  seeing  the 
weight  is  increased  by  something  like  one-third  over  the 
same  substance  solid  and  non-glued.  The  modern  three 
yards  rod,  as  we  have  said,  can  be  made  to  deliver  more 
line,  and  that  in  a  more  elegant  and  sportsmanlike  man- 
ner than  a  longer  one. 

But  the  question  naturally  arises,  if  the  fly-rod  has 
been  diminished  one -half  during  two  centuries,  of  what 
dimensions  is  it  likely  to  become  in  the  immediate  fu- 
ture ?  Our  reply  is,  that  in  the  course  of  a  decade  or  so, 
still  further  reductions  will  take  place.  The  length  of  a 
rod,  as  is  now  well  known,  has  very  little  to  do  with  the 
distance  it  can  be  made  to  cast  the  fly;  the  casting  powers 
entirely  depend  on  the  pliancy  and  strength,  hence  it  is 
that  the  very  hardest,  and  we  may  also  add,  the  most 
weighty  (for  one  characteristic  is  almost  inseparable  from 
the  other)  woods  are  so  far  superior  to  open-grained 
northern  timber.  Bone,  as  is  ah'eady  known,  is  too 
heavy,  buffalo  horn  is  too  limber  when  dressed  in  tops. 
The  result  of  our  investigations  is,  that  a  combination 
of  the  best  metal  and  the  best  wood,  would,  if  arranged 
correctly,  and  in  right  proportions,  be  an  advance  in  a 
desirable  direction.  We  therefore  had  a  rod  made  of  the 
very  best  of  strong  woods,  with  a  fine  bevelled  steel 
centre,  and  this  proved  when,  after  some  alterations,  it 
was  completed,  to  bear  out  the  hopes  conceived  in  respect 
to  it.  We  had  been  enamored  of  this  idea  theoretically, 
practically  it  gives  every  promise  of  ultimately  meriting 


FLY   FISHIITG   FOR   TROUT  AND   GRAYLING.  151 

the  pains  and  researches  we  bestowed  upon  it.  *  The  reel 
upon  the  new  rod  is  made  inside  the  butt,  so  to  speak, 
thus  all  annoya?ice  of  the  line  entwining  around  the  reel 
is  entirely  avoided,  f  The  general  working  of  the  imple- 
ment proves  this  to  be  a  decided  advantage  over  the  old 
side-fixing  system. 

The  Line  should  be  plaited  of  water-proof  silk.  The 
eight-plait  water-proof  fly  lines  have  gradually,  during 
the  last  forty  years,  superseded  the  old  hair,  as  well  as 
the  hair  and  silk  lines.  As  we  have  elsewhere  stated, 
silk  is  the  strongest  textile,  and,  when  duly  protected 
from  the  action  of  the  water,  cannot  be  surpassed  for 
surface  fishing.  The  new  Acm^  Line  is  a  further  im- 
provement on  the  above.  It  contains  a  fine  strand  or 
thread  of  annealed  and  specially  prepared  copper  wire, 
either  in  the  plaiting  or  in  the  centre  of  the  line,  the 
whole  being  carefully  water-proofed.  J  The  Acme  is 
guaranteed  to  extend  the  rodster's  powers  considerably. 

The  Reel  should  be  of  bronze,  or  brass,  and  the  han- 
dle should  be  attached  to  a  revolving  plate,  instead  of  a 

*  The  wire-centered  re-enforced  rod  was  made  in  America  fifteen  years 
a^^o.  In  186S,  Mr.  Hyde,  inventor  of  the  "  Hyde  Clip  "  for  fly-books, 
made  two  rods  on  this  principle.  The  wood  used  was  cedar,  and  a  two- 
jointed  rod  was  constructed  with  a  small  steel  wire  running  through  it 
from  end  to  end.  One  of  these  rods  is  still  in  existence.  About  two 
years  ago  Dr.  Rippard,  of  Westminster,  Md.,  (since  deceased)  patented 
a  rod  of  similar  construction,  and  through  a  fishing-tackle  house  an 
effort  was  made  to  introduce  them  to  the  trade,  but  without  success. 
Recently  Mr.  C.  Bremaker  gave  a  description  in  "  The  American  Angler'' 
of  a  wire-centered  rod  of  his  own  invention,  and  attested  in  strong 
terms  to  its  qualities  of  strength  and  pliancy.  From  the  above  notes  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  invention  (?)  of  Mr.  Foster  is  not  a  nev/  thing  to 
American  anglers,  many  of  whom  do  not  see  any  value  in  a  rod  re-en- 
forced on  the  wire-centered  principle. 

+  The  Hancock  enclosed  reel  has  been  for  some  time  on  the  American 
market,  and,  notwithstanding  the  merit  of  the  principle,  it  has  fallen 
fiat;  owing  mainly,  I  judge,  from  its  weight  and  clumsiness. 

J  The  Acme  Line  has  not  been  introduced  in  this  country. 


152  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

miniature  windlass.  This  again  is  an  improvement  upon 
old-style  abominations.  Who  has  not  experienced  annoy- 
ance and  loss  from  the  entanglement  of  the  line  around 
the  fancifully  turned  winch  handle,  just  at  some  critical 
moment  when  line  was  imperatively  wanted?  And  who 
can  measure  the  amount  of  loss  this  improvement  alone, 
when  generally  adopted,  will  prevent? 

Multiplying  reels  are  now  discarded  in  favor  of  a  plain 
check  reel  without  surplus  and  complicated  cog  wheels 
to  clog  and  get  out  of  order.  The  new  reel,  shown  upon 
the  new  fly  rod,  is  an  ordinary  reel  put  upon  the  butt  in 
the  centre,  instead  of  at  the  side  of  the  rod  butt.  These 
may  be  attached  to  any  rod,  when  the  socket  is  of  a  fit- 
ting diameter.  A  small  screw  or  rivet  will  secure  it 
permanently,  or  it  may  be  temporarily  screwed  and  used 
upon  it,  as  well  as  the  handy  side-fitting  reels,  and  can 
be  put  on  any  rod. 

Throwing  the  Fly,  contrasted  with  other  branches 
of  the  angling  art,  has  been  little  written  upon,  and  see- 
ing that  this  is  the  chief  obstacle  in  the  path  of  the 
beginner,  and  also  the  most  important  acquirement  of 
the  proficient  practitioner,  we  think  the  omission  a  serious 
one.  To  this  subject  we  have  devoted  much  attention, 
particularly  in  the  construction  of  new  and  improved 
implements  for  its  more  ready  attainment  and  practice. 
It  is  a  well  established  axiom  that  in  skillful  casting  lies 
the  chief  condition  of  success.  "  He  can  throw  a  good 
line,"  is  equivalent  to  asserting  the  proficiency  of  a  rod- 
ster,  whether  he  be  fly,  mid-water,  or  bottom  fisher. 

The  ordinary  routine  cast  is  the  first  to  be  practised 
and  acquired  by  the  tyro.  This  is  accomplished  by  bring- 
ing round  the  rod  so  as  to  describe  a  half  circle  from 
over  the  left  shoulder,  and  delivering  it  directly  over  the 
right,  the  action  emanating  from  the  wrist  and  elbow 
only.    It  is  capital  practice  for  the  young  student  to  cast 


FLY   FISHING    FOR  TROUT   AND   GRAYLING.  153 

upon  a  lawn  or  any  closely-cut  turf.  Line  to  the  length 
of  the  rod  should  first  be  delivered  efficiently  and  neatly, 
when  a  hat  should  be  placed  as  the  receptacle  of  the  fly; 
after  the  distances  have  been  lengthened  at  intervals  a 
tumbler  may  be  substituted,  and  finally  a  small  wine 
glass.  When  these  different  exercises  have  been  success- 
fully accomplished,  with  a  fair  length  of  line,  the  rodster 
may  safely  try  his  hand  upon  the  bosom  of  the  watery 
element.  Lightness  and  precision  follow  practice  and 
experience.  The  exercise  of  casting  into  a  floating  wal- 
nut shell  is  a  feat,  the  accomplishment  of  which,  at  a 
distance  of  not  less  than  a  dozen  yards,  betokens  a  fair 
degree  of  proficiency  and  precision  in  casting.* 

In  fly-fishing  the  ever  changing  geological  bearings, 
the  varying  meteorological  influences,  the  position  of 
trees  and  other  impediments,  necessitate  a  constant 
change  of  tactics  in  order  to  reach  the  feeding  fish,  who, 
as  they  become  more  schooled,  take  up  the  most  inacces- 
sible and  secluded  positions.  Although  some  streams  are 
comparatively  narrow,  it  is  not  always  incumbent  upon, 
or  advisable  for  the  fisherman  to  take  up  his  stand  upon 
the  verge  of  the  water.  *^To  fish  fine  and  far  off,"  as 
Cotton,  the  father  of  all  fly-fishers  expresses  it,  is  infi- 
nitely better  whenever  practicable.  Broken  water  should 
be  chosen  by  the  novice  to  commence  upon,  as  while  fish 
are  extracted  by  him  from  the  rapids,  and  purling 
streams,  etc.,  the  slower  running  and  still  waters  may 
prove  beyond  his  attainments. 

After  precision  and  lightness  of  execution  are  attained, 
the  casting  distance  should  next  be  extended,  and  upon 
this  point  we  may  briefly  say  that  more  depends  upon 
the  line  and  rod  than,  generally  speaking,  upon  the  rod- 
ster.    With  an  unusually  light  and  stiff  rod  it  is  often  a 

*  "Accuracy  and  delicacy  "  are  awarded  first  place  by  Eng^lish  fly-cast- 
ers; "distance"  second.  This  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind  by  the 
future  mana«?ers  of  American  Casting  Tournaments. 


154  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

matter  of  great  difficulty  to  get  out  properly  a  few  odd 
yards  over  double  the  rod's  length.  The  same  result 
ensues  when  the  reverse  is  the  case,  with  a  very  pliable 
tool  fitted  with  a  stout  heavy  line.  The  rod  in  this  case 
is  in  peril  of  parting  in  the  middle,  or  "breaking  its 
back''  so  to  speak,  whilst  the  line,  if  unreeled  to  any 
extent,  will  constantly  be  in  a  state  of  entanglement. 
A  great  deal  depends  upon  getting  accustomed  to  the 
particular  *^ swing"  of  the  rod,  as  when  this  is  the  case 
all  other  implements  are  generally  rejected  in  favor  of 
''one  like  the  last."  Hence  it  is  that  so  great  a  diversity 
exists,  even  amongst  the  oldest  and  best  hands,  upon 
every  well  frequented  water.  Another  consideration  is 
the  strength  of  the  muscles.  This  has  so  important  a 
bearing  on  the  wielding  of  the  rod,  that  it  is  yearly  more 
and  more  taken  into  account  by  the  gradual  adoption  of 
shorter  and  lighter  rods.  As  we  have  previously  stated, 
we  have  always  paid  considerable  attention  to  the  intro- 
duction of  suitable  appliances  for  casting,  and  that  more 
especially  upon  fine  and  clear  waters.  The  great  diffi- 
culty experienced  by  young  fly-fishers  in  acquiring  the 
ability  of  getting  out  a  good  line,  we  have  attempted  to 
remedy  by  the  invention  of  an  entirely  new  line,  which, 
from  its  peculiar  construction,  combines  weight  and 
strength  with  excessive  fineness.  We  allude  to  the  now 
well-know ''Acme"  fly-line,  which,  since  its  introduc- 
tion, has  given  such  general  satisfaction  that  the  practi- 
cal results  now  manifest  warrant  the  conclusion  that  by 
the  removal  of  the  main  stumbling  block  in  the  begin- 
ner's path,  namely,  the  difficulty  of  a  good  delivery  in 
casting,  a  great  and  important  desideratum  has  been 
attained.  From  the  testimony  made  public  through  the 
medium  of  the  press,  it  has  been  proved  that  the  throw- 
ing powers  of  both  tyro  and  proficient  have  been  aug- 
mented considerably  by  its  use.  We  allude  in  detail  to 
its  construction,  etc.,  elsewhere.     All  that  is  needful  to 


FLY   FISHING    FOR  TROUT   AND   GRAYLING.  155 

be  observed  here  is  that  through  the  medium  of  the 
'^ Acme  Wire-line"  the  novice  may  with  a  few  hours' 
practice,  cast  as  effectually  and  efficiently  as  he  might  by 
the  practice  of  as  many  months  with  the  old  style  lines.* 
With  reference  to  the  degree  of  skill  and  proficiency  in 
the  delivery  of  the  fly,  the  talent  of  the  oldest  and  best 
fly-fishers  varies.  The  real  adept  will  adapt  himself  to 
surrounding  circumstances,  casting  over  intervening 
boughs  and  bushes,  now  over  an  impending  rock  or 
boulder,  or  around  some  partially  submerged  substance 
in  midstream,  or  jutting  portions  of  the  river's  bank, 
without  regard  to  any  orthodox  principle  or  rule. 

In  short,  a  thorough  command  of  the  rod  and  line  is 
as  essential  and  important  as  the  wielding  of  the  whip  in 
the  case  of  a  tandem  or  four-in-hand  drive.  We  are 
reminded  by  this  analogy  that  the  most  skillful  cast  we 
ever  knew  wielded  the  whip:  we  refer  to  the  famous 
Eoyal  coachman,  Tom  Bosworth :  Old  Tom  had,  in  the 
early  part  of  his  life,  driven  three  British  Sovereigns, 
viz. — the  Fourth  George,  the  Fourth  William,  and  finally, 
for  a  lengthened  period,  Her  Majesty  Queen  Victoria.  As 
a  successful  fisherman.  Old  Tom,  when  known  to  the 
writer,  was  unsurpassed.  He  would  often  fish  in  the 
wake  of  several  rodsters,  whose  energy  would  exceed 
their  skill,  and  would  extract  not  infrequently  three 
times  their  weight  of  fish,  by  skillfully  and  carefully 
casting   over   the   awkward  and   most  unlikely  looking 

*  I  have  carefully  abstained  from  critical  notes,  as  an  indulgence  in 
them  would  have  greatly  encroached  upon  the  space  allotted  me,  but  I 
cannot  pass  by  the  claim  of  merit  made  for  this  new  copper-threaded 
line,  without  expressing  my  fear  that  the  laudatory  paragraphs  are 
simply  advertising  mediums  used  to  place  a  profitable  "tack"  upon  the 
market.  1  do  not  doubt  that  long  casts  may  be  made  with  it — a 
clothes  line  impelled  by  a  sinewy  arm  would  doubtless  show  a  marvel- 
lous reach — but  the  delicate  delivery  of  the  featliers,  which,  now  and 
then,  on  a  passing  breath  of  wind,  will  flutter  as  they  fall,  would  be 
sadly  demoralized  by  the  drag  of  this  metallic  re-enforcement  of  a  reel 
line. 


156  THE   SCIENTIFIC    ANGLER. 

spots,  which  the  majority  of  anglers  would  rarely  dream 
of  trying.  A  favorite  freak  of  his  with  the  whip  was  to 
take  the  pipe  from  the  teeth  of  a  passing  pedestrian  by  a 
carefully  calculated  whirl  of  the  lash,  and  this  aptitude 
was  as  remarkably  exemplified,  for  a  limited  distance,  in 
his  use  of  the  rod.  Bosworth  originated  the  Coachman 
Fly,  so  much  appreciated  for  night-fishing. 

The  cast  most  useful  in  boisterous  weather  is  the  Welsh 
or  Spey  Throw.  This  is  more  commonly  known  to  fly- 
fishers  for  salmon.  The  line  is  whisked  off  the  water  by 
an  upward  and  backward  movement  of  the  rod,  but  is 
delivered  forward  again  by  a  rapid  lower  whisk  of  the 
rod's  upper  portion,  just  as  the  last  of  the  reel-line  leaves 
the  top  of  the  water.  This  raises  the  line  above  all  im- 
pediments and  encumbrances  in  the  shape  of  bushes,  etc., 
fringing  the  river's  bank.  *  Personally  we  make  our 
longest  cast  by  it.  The  usually-deemed  impregnable  po- 
sitions of  the  most  choice  and  best  fed  fish  are  brought 
under  fire  by  a  resort  to  this  cast,  as  indeed  are  all  fish 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  usual  run  of  rodsters.  Some  fly- 
fishers  appear  never  to  aspire  to  a  greater  distance  than 
the  width  of  the  stream  or  brook  most  fished  by  them. 
For  mountain  or  moorland  stream,  Scottish  beck  and 
bum,  and  Welsh  torrent,  this  may  answer  amply,  but 
upon  the  comparatively  wide  and  open  water  something 
further  and  more  extensive  is  needed.  Every  fly-fisher 
should  be  able  to  cast  at  least  twenty  yards  of  reel-line. 
The  importance  of  artistically  getting  out  the  lure  is 

*  The  Welsh  or  Spey  Throw  is  identical  with  the  "  underhand  "  or 
"rolling"  cast,  introduced  by  Mr.  Pritchard  at  the  New  York  Casting 
Tournament,  with  which  he  made  a  cast  of  ninety-one  feet,  by  actual 
measurement.  This  unprecedented  official  record  1  can  vouch  for, 
which  my  presence  in  the  boat  of  the  judges  enables  me  to  do.  The 
Foster  Brothers  who  have  compiled  the  notes  of  the  author,  their  father, 
claim  that  he  or  they  have  thrown,  with  a  single  handed  fly  rod  and  the 
Acme  line,  ninety-seven-and-a-half  feet.  This  east  unfortunately  for 
its  value  of  record,  is  not  oificial. 


FLY   FISHING    FOR   TKOUT   AND    GRAYLING.  15? 

fully  recognized  in  districts  where  the  natural  surround- 
ings render  it  a  matter  of  vital  importance,  but  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  it  is  a  point  not  so  well  practised  or  understood 
as  could  be  wished. 

Striking  requires  a  keen  eye,  and  a  quick  wrist-effect 
to  a  greater  extent  than  is  easy  to  be  conceived  by  the 
tyro.  A  really  accomplished  fly-fisher  is  not  so  frequent- 
ly heard  to  complain  of  the  fish  rising  short.  A  dilatory 
rodster,  whenever  the  fish  prove  too  quick  by  rejecting 
the  steel-hearted  lure,  after  giving  him  the  customary 
*' pluck,"  falls  back  upon  the  old  and  convenient  excuses, 
the  tendency  of  which  is  to  charge  the  effect  of  his  own 
shortcomings  to  the  fish.  Many  theories  are  expounded 
in  reference  to  the  matter  of  striking.  Some  anglers  re- 
commend an  instantaneous  *' knock,"  others  advise  a 
momentary  pause  after  the  Inre  has  been  closed  upon  as 
being  the  correct  thing,  and  some  affirm  that,  owing  to 
the  difficulty  of  acquiring  the  right  ''knack"  of  driving 
home  the  delicate  fly-hook,  far  more  fish  are  lost  by  an 
unnecessarily  heavy  and  spirited  motion  of  the  rod  in  a 
moment  of  excitement  than  if  striking  were  not  adopted 
at  all.  The  late  Mr.  James  Ogden,  an  old  friend  of  ours, 
never  let  slip  an  opportunity  of  declaiming  against  random 
striking, always  affirming  that  young  and  inexperienced  an- 
glers lose  the  major  portion  of  the  fish  they  raise  through 
awkwardness  in  this  matter.  ''  I  have  " — says  he,  in  the 
columns  of  a  leading  sporting  journal — "in  the  course  of 
my  experience  seen  some  of  the  best  rods  and  tackle 
broken  by  this  means,  during  a  momentary  excitement. 
I  strongly  recommend  young  fishermen  not  to  strike  at 
all."  We  can  fully  endorse  this  statement ;  but  to  be 
more  explicit,  although  it  may  be  advisable  for  the  youth- 
ful aspirant  to  avoid  needless  disaster,  it  is  certainly  ad- 
visable that  he  should  acquire  the  right  and  ready 
"  knack  "  of  hooking  his  rise  in  an  effective  and  skillful 


158  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLEE. 

manner.  The  result  of  our  experience  upon  this  subject 
is  as  follows: — 

First : — It  is  an  exceedingly  difficult,  if  not  impossible, 
thing  to  successfully  hook  a  fish  that  has  risen  at  the 
end  of  sixteen  to  eighteen  yards  of  line,  in  the  event  of 
his  not  hooking  himself,  as  the  impetus  given  to  the  line 
through  the  medium  of  the  rod  on  the  appearance  of  a 
rise,  reaches  the  scene  of  action  too  late  to  be  of  any 
utility.  As  a  matter  of  course,  when  the  feeding  fish  are 
near  at  hand,  and  the  line  is  taut  and  straight,  a  small 
jerk  from  the  wrist  will  have  full  chance  of  being  effec- 
tual, and  in  this  case  the  single  moment's  grace  may  be 
granted  with  safety  in  still  water,  as  the  trout  are,  gen- 
erally speaking,  more  leisurely  m  their  movements. 
It  is  essential  that  the  details  appended  should  be 
thoroughly  mastered  in  order  to  attam  proficiency.  Our 
own  private  plan,  after  the  delivery  of  the  fly  in  the  ex- 
tending circle  of  the  last  rise,  is  to  look  out  for  the 
gleaming  side  of  the  fish  as  it  rises,  in  order  to  get  which 
the  eye  should  be  centred  within  the  circle,  but  some 
little  distance  nearer  the  rodster.  When  this  habit  is 
contracted,  as  it  easily  is  with  practice,  wonderful  accu- 
racy will  be  attained  in  efficient  striking,  even  at  the 
longest  distances.  * 

Second: — The  action  and  amount  of  force  required  to 
hook  the  fish,  are  an  intricate  matter  to  deal  with  definite- 
ly, as  so  much  depends  upon  the  bearings  of  the  situa- 
tion. That  small  fish  require  gentle  usage,  whilst  com- 
paratively large  ones  necessarily  require  more  impulsive 
treatment,  is  an  aphorism  well  known  to  all ;  but  that 
the  rodster  should  be  cognizant  to  a  nicety  of  the  weight- 
sustaining  power  of  the  fine  tackle,  and  should  also  be 
able  to  calculate  accurately  the  probable  result  of  a  san- 

*  When  fishing  down  stream  on  our  mountain  trout  waters,  the  fish, 
nine  times  in  ten,  hook  themselves  ;  at  least  such  has  been  my  own  ex- 
perience. 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT  AND   GRAYLING.  159 

guine  stroke  of  the  hook  upon  the  hard  and  bony  part; 
or,  upon  the  other  hand,  on  the  soft  and  impressible 
portion  of  the  fish's  body,  is  altogether  another  thing. 
Beyond  this  an  accurate  estimate  of  the  elasticity  of  the 
line,  etc.,  should  be  possessed,  and  the  striking  motion 
accelerated  or  modified  accordingly.*  The  action  requi- 
site is  a  short,  quick,  wrist-motion,  commenced  sharply, 
but  ended  almost  instantly  and  abruptly,  like  a  quick 
movement  of  the  hand  in  bringing  a  foil  in  fencing  from 
tierce  to  carte.  The  hand  holding  the  rod  is  turned  up- 
wards and  backwards,  whilst  the  arm  is  stationary  when 
a  short  line  is  out,  the  movement  being  lengthened  when 
the  intervening  line  is  either  long  or  loose.  One  of  the 
greatest  charms  of  fly-fishing  lies  undoubtedly  in  the 
comparative  absence  of  routine  and  sameness.  The  plier 
of  the  rod  must  adapt  himself  to  ever-changing  circum- 
stances. It  is  a  curious  thing,  and  one  that  we  have 
often  been  puzzled  to  account  for  satisfactorily,  that  it  so 
frequently  happens  that  precisely  as  the  first  trout  is 
hooked,  so  are  all  subsequent  captures  throughout  the 
day. 

This  fact  first  forcibly  impressed  us  many  years  since. 
We  were  fishing  in  company  with  Mr.  Eamsbottom,  of 
Clitheroe,  Lancashire,  who  wished  to  try  salmon  roe,t 
as  a  bait  for  trout  upon  the  Dove,  suitable  tackle  for 
which  had  been  baited  by  our  friend  for  our  personal  use, 
we  being  then  uninitiated  in  the  mystic  *'roe"  fishing. 
Before  rod  No.  2  was  equipped  for  action  we  had  hooked 
a  fish,  which  was  ultimately  landed.  The  hook  proved 
to  be  imbedded  in  the  tongue,  a  somewhat  unusual  thing. 


*  The  author,  to  my  surprise,  fails  to  note  the  relative  merits  of  rods 
In  this  question  of  when  to  strike,  viz:  a  "whippy"  rod,  which  is  slow 
in  action,  and  a  stiff,  though  pliant,  rod  which  responds  quickly  to  the 
wrist-turn. 

+  The  use  of  roe  for  bait  is  now  prohibited  by  the  law  of  the  realm. 


160  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

as  we  then  remarked.  '*  Every  fish  we  take  this  day  will 
be  hooked  similarly,"  coolly  prognosticated  our  friend. 
At  the  time  we  confess  to  having  been  rather  sceptical 
as  to  the  likelihood  of  this  proving  accurate,  but  the 
result  verified  the  prediction,  for  every  fish  that  fell  to 
our  steel  upon  that  occasion  was  firmly  hooked  in  the 
tongue.  Had  the  hold  of  the  hook  been  slight  in  the 
first  instance,  say  near  the  external  bordering  of  the 
mouth,  we  were  assured  that  our  take  would  have  been 
diminished,  as  this  would  have  indicated  that  the  fish 
were  not  in  a  feeding  mood,  and  would  therefore  close 
upon  the  bait  in  a  faint-hearted  manner.  The  same  is 
exemplified  in  fly-fishing,  though  perhaps  not  in  a  degree 
so  conspicuously  marked.  The  first  fish  indicates,  as 
a  rule,  the  temporary  state  of  the  whole  of  his  fellows, 
whether  huuger-bitten  or  eager,  or  fastidious  and  in- 
different. 

In  striking  a  grayling,  it  behooves  the  rodster  to  be 
extremely  careful,  as  not  only  is  the  fish  excessively  deli- 
cate and  tender-skinned  about  the  mouth,  but  the  tackle, 
being  finer,  is  less  calculated  to  sustain  any  sudden 
wrench.  This  is  not  the  case  with  larger  quarry;  a  few 
weeks',  or  even  days'  lake  trouting,  will  put  out  the  hand 
for  fine  grayling  fishing  for  some  length  of  time.  What 
we  have  always  found  a  safe  antidote  in  these  cases  is  to 
carefully  keep  a  taut  line,  and  immediately  a  fish  rises  to 
give  a  forward  motion  of  the  rod  a  foot  or  so.  The 
downward  action  of  the  line  thus  eased,  has  the  effect  of 
sending  in  the  little  delicate  hook  without  the  most  re- 
mote chance  of  danger.  This  may  appear  incredible  in 
theory,  but  we  can  answer  for  its  efficiency  in  practice. 
In  rapid  stream  fishing  a  modification  of  the  usual  twist 
of  the  wrist  may  be  given  in  the  case  of  the  grayling, 
where  rapidity  is  the  essential  point;  the  twist  here  re- 
ferred to  should  describe  a  downward  direction,  as  when 
this  is  done  the  first  action  of  the  rod  tip  is  directly 


Plate  4. 


FLY   FISHIKG   FOR  TEOUT   AKD    GRAYLING.  163 

upwards  and  opposite.  The  extent  of  the  momentum 
ranges  according  to  the  pliability  of  the  rod. 

Playing  a  Fish  comes  next  in  order.  The  instant  a 
fish  is  hooked  the  rod  should  be  mounted  at  a  proper 
angle,  so  as  to  feel  the  fish.  The  tactics  to  be  employed 
vary  in  accordance  with  the  lay  of  the  water,  as  also  with 
the  conduct  of  the  fish  hooked,  as  when  he  descends  im- 
mediately upon  being  struck,  pulling  heavily  in  the  deep 
water,  fighting  hard  for  his  hold,  or  neighboring  shelter, 
it  may  be  certainly  inferred  that  he  is  safely  hooked;  but 
when  he  exhibits  a  tendency  to  fight  it  out  near  the  sur- 
face, occasionally  attempting  to  clear  the  water  altogether, 
he  is,  as  a  general  rule,  but  lightly  hooked,  and  if  not 
carefully  handled,  will  to  a  certainty  be  lost.  The  proper 
method  of  playing  a  fish  in  open  water  that  is  clear  from 
weeds,  sticks,  etc.,  is  to  give  him  plenty  of  line,  and  play 
him  until  he  is  completely  exhausted,  cautiously  keeping 
the  rod  on  a  regular  bend;  but  in  rapid  and  turbulent 
rivers  playing  a  fish  is  certain  to  end,  not  only  in  the  loss 
of  the  fish,  but  also  of  a  portion  of  your  tackle. 

There  are  scarcely  any  rivers  free  from  portions  of  trees 
lying  concealed  in  the  deep  waters,  the  small  holes  being 
well  stocked  with  branches.  In  the  shallow  waters  there 
are  plenty  of  piles  placed  regularly  a  few  yards  apart, 
which  are  generally  laid  to  prevent  depredations  by  nets, 
and  are  seldom  unfurnished  with  branches  of  trees,  etc. 
When  a  fish  is  surprised  by  being  hooked,  his  first  move- 
ment is  to  dart  upon  the  most  convenient  stick  or  pile, 
and  with  the  rapidity  of  thought,  entwine  your  tackle 
two  or  three  times  round  it;  then  he  makes  good  his 
escape.  If  he  darts  into  a  bed  of  weeds  he  stays  there, 
and  the  line  is  hopelessly  entwined,  and  you  are  left  to 
liberate  it  as  you  may.  Notwithstanding  these  obstruc- 
tions, the  experienced  fly-fisher  seldom  loses  a  single  fish 
in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two's  fishing,  though  the  gut 
tackle  he  uses  is  as  fine  as  possible.     When  a  fish  is 


164  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AI^GLER. 

hooked  in  a  stream,  a  moderate  heavy  bend  should  be 
immediately  put  upon  the  rod,  the  rodster  keeping  oppo- 
site his  prey  whenever  the  bank  admits  of  it,  and  Avhere 
this  is  impracticable  line  should  be  given  and  taken  as 
occasion  requires,  and  circumstances  dictate.  When  the 
tackle  is  light  and  fine,  and  the  quarry  large,  we  com- 
monly resort  to  this  expedient,  which  seldom  indeed 
fails.  We  suddenly  stay  all  show  of  opposition  and  head 
the  fish  rather  than  otherwise  a  little  in  the  direction  he 
makes  for  so  desperately.  In  open  water,  where  this  is 
more  practicable,  ninety-nine  times  out  of  a  hundred  he 
becomes  utterly  confounded  at  the  sudden  change,  and 
will  make  a  faint  effort  at  a  new  departure  in  a  side  di- 
rection and  widely  different  angle,  but  quickly  shows 
broadside,  and  yields.  This  may  appear  incredible  in 
theory;  we  are,  however,  speaking  from  our  own  expe- 
rience, and  can  vouch  for  its  practical  result.  Whenever 
a  fish  is  safely  hooked  it  is,  as  a  rule,  the  fisher's  own 
fault  if  he  be  ultimately  lost.  Personally,  we  never 
pass  a  feeding  fish  because  of  his  locating  in  what  is 
usually  deemed  an  ** awkward  spot."  '^What's  the  use 
of  trying  for  that  fish?"  queries  a  passing  rodsfcer.  **It 
would  be  impossible  to  land  him  were  you  to  get  hold." 

It  has  always  been  our  policy  to  get  hold  first,  as  a 
preliminary  ceremony,  which  done,  the  landing  question 
is  an  after  consideration.  The  notion  of  the  main  mass 
of  anglers  would  appear  to  be,  that  if  an  unusually  cun- 
ning fish  takes  up  an  impregnable  looking  position  he  is 
to  be  religiously  left  unassailed.  *^ Breakers  ahead" 
seem  to  be  scented  by  the  over-cautious  pliers  of  the  rod, 
when  the  chances  of  conquest  are  really  ''  as  even  "  as  in 
less  dangerous  localities;  and  even  supposing  this  were 
not  so,  the  greater  the  difficulty  the  more  exciting  the 
sport,  and  the  keener  the  pleasure.  There  is  no  necessity 
for  lugging  out  instanter  a  hooked  fish.  In  these  cir- 
cumstances a  short  line  and  a  sturdy  pliant  rod  will  avert 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT   AND   GRAYLING.  165 

endless  disaster,  and  by  holding  on  like  grim  death  at 
one  end  of  the  line,  whilst  the  terrified  fish  holds  on  in  a 
similar  style  at  the  other,  the  very  largest  and  heaviest 
fish  are  to  be  generally  exhausted,  and  that  with  small 
risk  of  failure. 

Amongst  the  precepts  to  be  impressed  upon  the  mind 
of  the  novice  are  the  following:  Never  play  a  fish 
against  a  stream,*  as  by  that  means  an  additional  weight 
is  thrown  upon  the  line  and  tackle,  which  in  all  cases  is 
particularly  undesirable,  as  in  the  event  of  the  tackle 
holding  to  its  tether,  there  is  danger  of  the  fish  being 
forcibly  torn  away  from  the  hook.  A  small  fish  drawn 
against  the  stream,  strains  the  tackle  inconceivably. 
Whenever  a  fish  makes  for  weeds,  roots,  or  submerged 
timber  at  the  rodster's  side  of  the  river,  do  not  potter 
with  the  reel,  but  haul  in  the  line  by  the  left  hand, 
allowing  it  to  fall  at  the  feet.f  The  height  of  absurdity 
to  the  mind  of  the  writer  is  the  sight  of  a  stalwart  fisher- 
man comfortably  winding  away  at  the  miniature  wind- 
lass, in  an  endeavor  to  hoist  a  hooked  fish  that  has 
secreted  himself  amongst  roots,  sunken  sticks,  piles,  or 
other  mischief,  as  though,  seeing  he  had  been  observed 
to  go  in,  there  was  not  the  least  ground  for  doubts  as  to 
his  being  speedily  got  out  again.  Wherever  weeds  are  most 
prevalent  in  a  trout  stream,  there  the  best  fish  congre- 
gate. Like  pike,  they  love  to  secrete  themselves  in  the 
green  shades  of  aquatic  vegetation,  from  whence  they 
can  dart  upon  their  unexpecting  prey.  Whenever  sur- 
face food  is  sufficiently  tempting,  they  leave  their  cover, 
generally  rising  upon  the  less  frequented  side  of  the 
water,  where  they  have  still  the  full  benefit  of  the  weed 
beds  which  intervene  between  them  and  their  would-be 


*  Most  excellent  advice,  but  difficult  to  follow,  when  fishing  down 
stream. 

tThe  author  refers  to  bank  fishing  with  stalwart  tackle. 


166  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

captors.  It  is  often  most  tantalizing  to  lose  one  fish 
after  another  in  a  vain  attempt  to  keep  them  from  their 
weedy  retreat;  the  position  of  this  between  the  rodster 
and  their  fish,  coupled  with  the  circumstance  of  a  long 
line  being  necessary  to  reach  the  rising  fish,  gives  the 
latter  every  chance  of  escape,  which,  in  fact,  amply  ac- 
counts for  the  presence  of  the  best  and  finest  fish  in  such 
quarters.  In  these  cases  an  exceptional  course  of  pro- 
cedure may  without  complication  be  resorted  to. 

Immediately  a  fish  is  hooked,  line  and  rod  must  be 
held  in  readiness  for  the  first  dash  of  the  fish  to  the 
weeds,  ^'he  interval,  as  a  rule,  is  not  long,  as  the 
moment  they  feel  the  hook's  points,  and  recover  from 
their  consternation,  instinct  prompts  them  to  make  for 
the  friendly  shelter  of  the  weeds,  which,  if  entered,  the 
chances  are  the  fisher  loses  both  fish  and  flies,  with  a 
portion  of  gut  lash  to  boot.  To  avert  this  the  line  must 
be  hauled  in  as  rapidly  as  possible  by  the  left  and  disen- 
gaged hand,  whilst  the  rod's  point  must  be  brought 
back  at  right  angles  from  the  water,  should  the  fish  per- 
mit it.  As  a  general  rule,  upon  all  moderately  large 
streams  these  combined  tactics  have  the  effect  of  bring- 
ing up  the  fish,  before  the  right  angle  is  described,  as  in 
the  case  of  a  rod  twelve  feet  long  for  example,  the  line  is 
shortened  by  twenty-four  feet.  When  the  head  of  the 
fish  is  thus  brought  to  the  surface  he  must  be  assiduously 
held  there,  line  being  gradually  and  carefully  taken  in  as 
he  flounders  over  the  weed  beds.  A  freshly  hooked  fish 
will  be  found  to  force  a  passage  by  the  stern  or  tail 
action,  when  firmly  held  by  the  head,  infinitely  better 
than  the  rodster  unaided,  in  the  case  of  an  exhausted 
fish,  could  do  it  for  him. 

We  well  recollect  once  fishing  upon  the  Wye  (Derby- 
shire), at  Bakewell,  Avhen  the  main  incident  of  the  day 
had  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  subject  now  before  us,  and 
may  serve  as  an  illustration  of  what  we  have  endeavored 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT  AND   GRAYLING.  167 

to  point  out.  It  was  about  the  middle  of  April,  the 
morning  clear  and  keen,  the  night  preceding  had  been 
dry  and  frosty.  Before  noon  myriads  of  flies  were  out, 
whirling  in  ceaseless  activity  in  the  warm  rays  of  the 
sun.  We  had  been  casting  in  a  pre-occupied  sort  of  way 
up  to  this  time,  occasionally  creeling  a  small  fish,  and 
now  and  then  imparting  some  little  practical  hint  to  a 
companion  under  our  tuition.  Now  that  the  flies  were 
numerous,  the  fish  turned  out  to  feed,  and  our  lethargy 
was  shaken  ofl  in  the  anticipation  of  a  consequent  change. 
During  the  half  hour  ensuing,  we  had  experienced  ex- 
ceptionally good  sport,  and  whilst  thus  busily  engaged 
the  old  keeper  came  down  stream,  opened  conversation 
upon  fish,  fishing,  etc.,  and  seemed  in  no  hurry  to  de- 
prive us  of  the  benefit  of  his  attendance. 

"Where  does  the  best  of  your  fish  lie,  keeper?"  we 
inquired  after  a  time. 

"Oh,  up  by  the  bridge  yonder,  there's  as  nice  a  lot  o' 
fish  there  as  anywhere  i'  th'  river. " 

"How  far  is  it  up  stream  from  here?"  queries  our 
companion. 

"  Better  than  two  miles,  sir;  you  can  do  it  in  twenty 
minutes  or  thereabouts." 

Having  no  special  desire  to  test  the  accuracy  of  this 
statement,  we  ultimately  agreed  to  fish  up.  After  the 
lapse  of  about  an  hour  or  so,  we  arrived  upon  the  spot 
indicated,  in  company  with  the  keeper.  Here,  for  about 
a  stone's  throw  from  the  bridge,  were  dense  masses  of 
weeds,  through  which  the  water  passed  in  narrow  chan- 
nels. The  position  was  not  favorable,  there  being  in  the 
immediate  background  a  display  of  evergreen  shrubs, 
etc.,  which  looked  ill  for  the  safety  of  the  tackle. 
"  Well,  here  we  are  at  last,"  exclaims  our  pupil. 

"Yes,  gentlemen,"  put  in  the  old  man,  "there's  any 
amount  o'  fish  in,  but  plague  take  um,  nobody  can  get 
um  out;  the  best  fisherman  we  have  canner  manage  um." 


168  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

*' Ah!  how  do  you  account  for  that?"  we  inquired. 

**0h,  them  weeds  bother  um;  they  loses  the  fish  and 
tackle  an'  all; "  and  after  delivering  himself  of  this  grati- 
fying reflection,  the  old  keeper  calmly  inserted  his  pipe 
between  his  teeth,  and  his  hands  in  the  pockets  of  his 
breeches,  as  a  preliminary  to  seeing  the  fun.  At  the 
second  or  third  cast  we  hooked  a  fish,  and  by  a  strict  and 
prompt  application  of  the  tactics  previously  described, 
the  fish  wriggled  through  the  breakers  in  a  style  thor- 
oughly earnest  and  effective.  Once  clear  of  the  weeds 
we  relaxed  the  pressure  upon  the  rod,  playing  the  fish  at 
the  extremity  of  a  short  line  until  exhausted. 

"You've  been  very  lucky  with  this  un,  sir." 

"We  shall  be  equally  as  lucky  you  will  find  with  the 
next,"  was  our  reply.  At  the  very  next  cast  the  game 
was  repeated,  with  the  same  result,  nor  did  we  desist 
until  we  had  suificiently  punished  the  cunning  old  fox, 
by  an  extract  suflficient  to  cram  both  creels  with  the  lazy 
monsters,  whose  presence  near  the  bridge  we  knew  to  be 
the  keeper's  pride. 

Landii^g. — In  trout  fishing  the  landing-net  should  in- 
variably be  included  in  the  necessary  apparatus.*  The 
tackle  is  never  constructed  with  a  view  to  extract  fish 
bodily  out  of  their  element,  moreover  it  is  anything  but 


*  This  matter  of  landing:-nets  recalls  to  mind  a  novel  accident  when 
fishing  some  years  ago  on  Tim  Grey's  Run  in  Lycoming  Co. ,  Pa.  After 
walking  some  miles  up  the  run,  which  at  the  time  was  very  full  and 
rapid,  I  entered  the  stream  to  find,  on  killing  my  first  fish,  that  my 
landing-net  was  missing.  Like  all  other  earnest  trouters  I  was  not  dis- 
mayed, and  soon  improvised  a  net  out  of  my  rather  stifC-brimmed  fishing 
hat.  How  awkwardly  I  used  it  must  be  blushingly  untold,  but  the  last 
fish,  a  good  stout  fellow  with  muscles  of  iron,  that  it  was  used  upon, 
gave  a  flirt  out  of  it,  and  at  the  same  moment  an  extra  whirl  of  the 
down  pouring  waters  flirted  the  improvised  net  out  of  my  hand,  and 
from  that  hour  I  have  never  seen  my  Derby.  It  went  spinning  and  dip- 
ping down  the  stream  which  was  bank  high  and  in  full  vigor  of  current. 
1  continued  to  fish,  hatless,  for  hours,  landing  my  victims  on  the  shore 
whenever  an  apt  spot  appeared. 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT   Al^T)   GUAYLll^G.  169 

sportsman-like  to  attempt  it.  When  it  is  desired  to  net 
a  fish,  the  usual  rule  is  to  head  the  capture  to  the  nearest 
available  place  if  it  should  be  impracticable  where  hooked; 
and  in  all  cases  the  net  should  be  the  medium  by  which 
the  quarry  is  conveyed  to  land.  It  may  appear  a  very 
simple  matter  to  the  unpractical  mind  to  net  an  already 
hooked  fish,  but  anglers  of  experience  know  well,  too 
well,  perhaps,  that  indiscretion  and  undue  haste  in  land- 
ing, or  even  presenting  the  net  to  a  supposed  exhausted 
fish  will  cause  him  to  make  yet  another  plunge,  when 
least  expected,  for  life  and  liberty.  We  always  use  the 
net  with  our  disengaged  hand,  holding  it  edgeways,  part- 
ly to  enter  the  water  readily,  so  as  to  get  beneath  the 
fish,  and  partly  to  meet  the  fish,  which  is  so  brought 
round  as  to  enter  the  net  forcibly.  Bungling  aid  we  have 
always  found  worse  than  no  assistance ;  and  when  the 
practice  of  netting  one's  own  fish  is  acquired  we  feel  sure 
anglers  generally  will  find  it  much  more  advantageous 
and  satisfactory.  Nothing  is  more  common  than  for  an 
awkward  servant  or  attendant  to  hit  the  quarry  by  pok- 
ing at  him  with  the  sharp  rim  of  the  net,  instead  of 
placing  it  under  as  he  is  brought  near,  thus  knocking  the 
fish  off  the  hook,  if  not  otherwise  breaking  the  tackle. 
Who  has  not  some  painful  remembrance  of  some  deplor- 
able loss  of  this  kind  ?  For  our  own  part  we  have  had 
quite  sufiicient  lessons,  not  in  trout  alone,  but  in  salmon 
and  pike-fishing,  to  cause  us  to  refrain  from  trusting  our 
net  to  any  individual  not  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
use  and  handling  of  it. 

Grayling  especially  require  delicate  handling  when 
about  to  be  netted,  for  should  the  rod  be  unconsciously 
elevated,  so  as  to  cause  the  weight  of  the  fish  to  rest  upon 
the  hook  and  tackle,  the  fish  is  in  great  danger  of  being 
lost  by  the  hook  breaking  away  under  the  strain.  Fish 
should  not  be  pulled  even  in  part  out  of  the  water  whilst 
the  net  is  placed  under  them,  as  this  always  causes  danger 
8 


3  70  THE   SCIEI^TIFIC   AN^GLER. 

of  breakage,  from  the  cause  stated.  The  tail  end  of  the 
fish,  particularly  of  a  large  one,  is  to  be  inserted  first  in 
the  net,  except  in  special  cases,  as  when  for  instance,  the 
quarry  heads  close  by  the  rodster,  up  or  down  stream, 
when  the  net  may  be  used  as  a  receptacle  for  him  to  head 
into,  when  within  reach. 

The  best  times  to  fish,  the  seasonable  flies  and  other 
information  for  the  fly-fisher,  we  give  in  the  Monthly 
Notes.  We  now  purpose  dealing  more  generally  with  the 
subject  of  fly-fishing  in  its  various  bearings.  Fishing  in 
rapid  streams  requires  tactics  somewhat  different  from 
those  suitable  for  ordinary  smooth  running  river,  or  still- 
water  fishing.  In  these  no  humoring  actions  are  re- 
quired to  be  given  to  the  fly.  To  draw  against  or  even 
across  stream  in  these  circumstances  is  to  extend  to  it  an 
unnatural  motion.  The  flies  must  be  cast  a  few  feet 
above  the  dimply  indication  of  a  rise,  and  then  allowed 
to  float  over.  This  may  be  repeated  several  times  before 
moving  on,  especially  if  casting  over  grayling,  as  these 
fish  are  given  to  take  the  proffered  lure  more  often  than 
not  when  passed  over  repeatedly.  With  regard  to  the 
vexed  question  of  up  or  down-stream  fishing,  no  strict 
rule  need  be  observed ;  a  continuous  resort  to  either  is  not 
desirable.  Adherents  of  the  one  deprecate  the  ever- 
recurring  nuisance  of  the  line  becoming  slack  when  cast 
up  stream  by  the  downward  flow  of  water,  thus  lessening, 
after  each  delivery,  the  chances  of  a  rise  by  the  fly  being 
brought  again  home  to  the  feet.  Upon  the  other  side  of 
the  question  we  have  arguments  in  plenty  against  down- 
stream fishing,  the  most  important  being  the  habitual 
position  of  the  fish  heading  up-stream,  and  therefore  in 
full  ken  of  the  operations  instigated  for  his  allurement.* 

Our  method  of  fishing  a  strange  stream  is,  after  pros- 


*The  proportion  of  *'  down  stream  "  to  "  up  stream  "  fishers  in  Amer- 
ican waters  is  probably  one-hundred  to  one. 


FLY   FISHING   FOR   TROUT   AN^D   GRAYLIKG.  171 

pecting  the  length  to  be  operated  upon  the  night  or  early 
morn  previous,  to  commence  at  its  lower  end,  and  casting, 
as  we  have  attempted  to  describe  previously,  according  to 
the  lay  of  the  land  and  water  and  general  surroundings, 
now  across,  or  slanting  upward,  and  occasional^,  though 
rarely,  downwards.  Where  a  continuous  succession  of 
stream  and  pool  are  met  with,  each  should  be  well  and 
carefully  fished.  One  of  the  best  and  most  killing  styles 
of  still-water  fishing  with  the  fly  is  the  sunk-fly  system. 
This  consists  in  drowning  the  flies,  so  to  speak,  so  that 
they  will  readily,  though  gradually  descend,  and  working 
them  very  gently  by  a  very  minute  movement  of  the  rod 
tip.  The  very  finest  gut  line  is  essential  for  the  success- 
ful practice  of  this  mode.  The  same  method  may  be 
applied  to  the  deep  slower  running  streams,  with  deadly 
effect,  when  the  fish  refuse  to  rise  to  the  surface.  The 
dry-fly  system  is,  however,  by  far  the  most  scientific  and 
artistic  way  of  alluring  either  trout  or  grayling,  and  well 
fished  streams  wall  yield  more  and  heavier  dishes  of  those 
fish  to  it  than  to  any  method  or  system  of  angling  what- 
ever. At  twilight,  and  in  the  "gloaming"  of  evening, 
9s  also  in  night  fishing,  it  is  advisable  to  cast  across  and 
rather  down-stream,  as  the  line  cannot  be  kept  so  well 
under  hand,  the  command  over  it  being  less  according  to 
the  density  of  the  gathering  gloom.  Sometimes  the  sunk- 
fly  method  is  to  be  applied  to  the  sharp  running  streams 
with  signal  success,  as  may  also  the  dry-fly  style  to  the 
quieter  stills  and  pools.  A  change  in  this  respect  often 
proves  advantageous,  even  upon  well  whipped  waters,  the 
educated  inhabitants  of  which  so  soon  fight  shy  of  the 
persistently  applied  lures.  Whenever  one  side  of  a  river 
or  stream  is  habitually  well-lined  with  fishermen,  the  fish 
generally  rise  for  the  most  part  close  to  the  opposite 
bank,  in  most  cases  close  to  the  edge  of  the  water.  The 
plan  to  practice  in  these  circumstances  is  to  cast  directly 
out  upon  the  opposite  bank,  and  allow  the  end  to  drop  in 


172  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

a  casual  sort  of  way  into  the  water,  where  it  is  generally 
seized  instantly. 

Fly-fishing  for  grayling  and  trout  are  not  altogether 
identical,  as  we  have  elsewhere  shown.  Both  fish  are  fre- 
quently found,  however,  in  the  same  water,  and  are  to  be 
taken  with  the  same  cast  of  flies.  Finer  tackle,  as  a  rule, 
is  required  in  the  case  of  the  former,  as  also  smaller  and 
brighter  flies.  In  most  trout  streams  of  note  grayling 
are  found  in  profusion  in  their  lower  portion,  where  the 
water  flows  more  serenely.  Here  they  locate  near  the 
bottom,  even  when  surface  feeding;  therefore,  if  the  dry 
floating-fly  is  preferable  in  the  case  of  the  trout,  it  is 
doubly  so  in  that  of  the  grayling,  which,  though  perhaps 
more  expert  as  a  fly-catcher  habitually,  rises  a  much 
greater  distance  to  absorb  it.  We  contend,  therefore, 
that  in  the  surface  cast  and  draw  method,  the  fish  is 
scarcely  allowed  a  chance  to  get  within  seizing  distance. 
This  once  prevailing  practice  of  trailing  along  the  cast  is 
now  being  discarded,  and  deservedly  so.  How  it  should 
have  so  long  held  sway  we  never  could  conceive.  That 
fish  are  occasionally  taken  by  it  we  know,  and  that  they 
are  more  often  abashed  by  it,  we  understand  as  being  a 
perfectly  rational  result;  but  how  the  fisherman  who  trails 
his  lines  across,  or  slantways  over  a  stream,  at  so  rapid  a 
pace  as  to  leave  a  trail  similar  to  that  of  a  passing  rat  or 
water-hen,  can  imagine  he  is  extending  to  the  flies  a 
natural  and  seductive  action,  wo  confess  is  entirely  beyond 
us.  The  whole  of  the  land-flies  appear  naturally  out  of 
their  element  upon  the  water,  and  are  at  the  mercy  of 
wind  and  wave,  especially  upon  broken  water;  upon  the 
stills  they  certainly  have  a  little  more  power,  so  as  to  en- 
able them  to  essay  a  paddling  excursion  with  a  view  to 
escape  impending  perils;  but  even  here,  either  the  float- 
ing, or  the  sunk,  or  drowned  fly  is  found  preferable  to 
the  insane  system  of  trailing.  The  native  water  insects, 
as  every  fly-fisher  worthy  of  the  name  knows,  are  quite 


FLY    FISHING   FOR  TROUT   AND   GRAYLING.  173 

"  at  home  "  upon  the  element,  floating  down  stream  with 
their  wings  erect  in  the  case  of  the  ephemerals,  like  the 
minute  craft  upon  a  marine  engraving.  To  meet  the  case 
of  the  fluttering  land-flies,  wingless  or  buzzy  artificials 
answer  amply.  With  the  duns  the  wings  must  be  both 
full  and  erect,  or  *  ^cock-up"  as  it  is  sometimes  designated, 
so  as  to  admit  of  the  fly  being  kept  comparatively  dry  for 
some  little  time,  when,  becoming  saturated,  a  few  back- 
ward and  forward  whisks  of  the  line  and  rod  should  be 
given  before  the  delivery  of  the  cast  again.  This  is  re- 
peated whenever  the  flies  become  saturated,  as  by  so 
doing  the  trouble  of  repeatedly  changing  the  lure  is 
greatly  lessened. 

Fly-fishing  in  brooks  is  practised  much  the  same  as  in 
large  and  more  open  waters.  Where  the  banks  of  narrow 
water  are  clear  of  encumbrances,  the  rodster  should  fish 
some  distance  away,  so  as  to  avoid  needlessly  exposing 
the  person  and  purpose.  The  flies  for  brooks  and  tribu- 
taries of  good  "trouting"  streams  should  be  somewhat 
larger  than  those  used  for  the  main  streams,  to  enable  the 
fisherman  to  land  his  prey  safely  and  quickly,  as,  where 
the  water  is  turbulent  and  confined,  the  fish  have  greater 
chances  of  breaking  away.  Often  the  least  leniency  will 
be  rewarded  by  an  entanglement  with  sticks  or  roots  of 
trees;  playing  in  these  circumstances  is,  therefore,  not  to 
be  considered  for  an  instant.  The  flies  here  alluded  to 
are  suitable  for  discolored  waters  generally,  the  hook, 
hackle,  and  wing  being  somewhat  larger  to  withstand 
rough  usage.  The  same  order  of  land  and  water  insects 
appear  upon  all  running  waters  containing  trout  or  gray- 
ling, no  matter  where  situated;  nevertheless,  some  ang- 
lers will  persist  in  presenting  upon  all  and  every  occasion, 
a  wonderful  fly  or  two  which  is  said  to  kill  upon  that 
river  only.  For  our  part,  we  may  state,  that  we  never 
make  any  distinction  in  our  list  of  flies,  no  matter  what 
river  we  may  cast  over.     We  have  often  heard  the  phrase 


174  THE   SCIEiq^TIFIC   ANGLER. 

"  Your  flies  are  too  large  for  this  water,"  or — ^^  Your  flies 
are  too  small  to  kill  here,  sir."  Upon  some  Welsh  and 
Scottish  streams,  the  fly-fishers  use  unduly  large  flies, 
whilst  upon  clear  spring  waters,  the  local  flies  are  exces- 
sively small,  and  in  this  case  invariably  hackled.  Both 
large  and  small  flies  are  objectionable  when  they  do  not 
correspond  with  the  *^ naturals"  frequenting  the  water. 
We  can  testify  from  our  own  experience,  that  the  flies, 
irrespective  of  locality,  are  the  same  as  regards  size  upon 
every  river  in  England,  Wales,  or  Scotland;  even  those 
upon  mountain  lakes,  situated  in  some  cases  at  great 
elevation,  are  similar,  in  their  season,  both  as  regards  size 
and  color,  to  those  upon  low-lying  rivers. 

Fancy  flies,  when  used  judiciously  at  the  right  time, 
may  answer  just  as  well  for  trout,  and  especially  for  gray- 
ling, as  they  do  for  salmon;  indeed,  the  two  last-named, 
have  many  characteristics  in  common;  both  display  an 
effeminate  appreciation  of  gaudy  glitter  and  happy  com- 
bination of  colors,  whilst  the  more  circumspect  and  subtle 
trout  often  ignores  the  unnatural  ^^artificials,"  though 
presented  temptingly.  The  most  important  of  nonde- 
script *' artificials"  are,  beyond  doubt,  the  bumble  tribes. 
These  in  their  various  shades  seldom  fail  to  kill,  when  no 
rising  of  naturals  has  occurred  during  the  day,  or  when 
there  is  a  miscellaneous  host  of  ^' oddlings"  about  the 
water,  under  which  latter  circumstances  the  palmered 
"artificials"  are  undoubtedly  taken  for  some  one  of  the 
flies  about.  Another  useful  "child  of  fancy"  is  the  flat 
gold-bodied  whistler  fly.  This  is  hackled  with  red-brown 
pigeon's  breast  feather,  or  with  that  of  the  whistling 
plover,  from  which  it  takes  its  name.  This  fly  is  really 
valuable  for  discolored,  and  even  thick  rising  water. 
Many  are  the  times  we  have,  instead  of  leaving  the 
rapidly-rising  river  in  disgust,  killed  a  good  dish  of  fish 
through  its  sole  agency.  Upon  the  Wharfe,  upon  a 
late  occasion,  we  took  trout  sufficient  to  fill  our  creel  some 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT  AI^D   GRAYLIi^G.  175 

five  times,  had  they  been  all  retained,  whilst  several  an- 
glers who  had  repaired  to  the  same  length  returned  to  the 
hotel,  under  the  impression  that  the  water  was  too  thick 
for  the  worm. 

When  the  fish  are  basking,  during  the  mid-day  hours 
in  the  hot  summer  months,  they  are  not  always  to  be 
drawn  to  the  surface  by  small  flies.  The  red  caterpillar, 
elsewhere  described,  we  believe  to  be  unsurpassed  for 
trout  and  large  grayling  at  mid-day;  and  when  cast  as  a 
night-fly  in  the  *' gloaming"  of  evening.  Browns  and 
gaudily-dressed  lake  flies,  too,  when  cast  and  played  like 
a  minnov/,  just  below  the  surface  of  the  water,  are  good. 
But  the  combination  more  suitable  for  this  method  is  the 
dressing  known  as  the  '^Alexandra  fly."  This  is  as  large 
as  a  full-sized  Sewin  fly,  the  hook  employed  being  a 
Limerick,  the  shank  carefully  wrapped  with  broad  silver 
tinsel,  to  represent  the  body;  the  wings,  if  any,  consist 
of  a  dozen  strands  or  so  of  brown  turkey  feather;  hackles, 
blue  feathers  from  the  peacock's  neck.  This  fly  was  orig- 
inally introduced  by  Dr.  Hobbs,  some  fifteen  years  ago. 
Upon  well-wooded,  swift-running  waters  it  is  most  useful; 
the  line  is  allowed  to  run  out  with  the  current,  being  then 
drawn  back  up-stream  by  a  series  of  short  jerks  that  serve 
to  open  and  shut  the  fibres  of  the  hackle,  thus  exposing 
the  white  body  only  at  intervals,  at  measured  distances. 
It  is  surprising  how  the  fish  will  follow  and  take  this  fly 
when  in  the  *^ running"  mood.*  It  is,  most  certainly, 
far  superior  to  the  minnow,  from  the  fly-fisher's  point  of 
view. 

In  angling  there  are  various  influences  that  affect  the 
fish,  and  which  are  as  yet  but  little  understood.  Not 
only  are  their  habits  and  movements  most  important  to 
the  angler,  but,  for  the  better  pursuit  of  sport,  meteoro- 
logical changes  and  influences  should  also  be  noted  by  the 

*  They  doubtless  mistake  it  for  a  big  bug  making  frantic  efforts  to 
leave  the  water. 


176  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

observant  student.  To  some  it  is  not  known  that  the 
temperature  of  the  water  is  most  frequently  responsible 
forbad  "taking''  days;  we  habitually  carry  a  small  in- 
strument, by  no  means  generally  used  by  fishermen,  we 
refer  to  a  small  pocket  thermometer.  This  proves  most 
useful  in  ascertaining  the  temperature  of  the  water,  either 
at  tho  surface  or  at  the  bottom.  By  the  use  of  such  an 
instrument  the  observant  angler  soon  learns  that  when 
the  water  is  of  unusually  low  temperature,  the  moving 
*fish  will  be  rare,  notwithstanding  the  favorable  atmos- 
pheric temperature.  When  the  air  is  cold  and  the  water 
proves  at  a  higher  degree  than  common,  the  fish  will  be 
certain  to  be  more  or  less  on  the  feed;  but  when  both 
atmosphere  and  water  are  genial,  every  description  of  fish 
will  be  found  to  be  upon  the  *^ forage"  for  prey,  if  not 
satiated  by  some  proper  food  supply.  The  observant 
fisherman  upon  any  particular  water  soon  finds  out  much 
more  to  guide  him  in  his  choice  of  fishing.  The  water 
of  different  rivers  and  streams,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
varies,  and  the  fisher  in  any  particular  water  should  ascer- 
tain precisely,  not  only  the  prevailing  temperature  of  the 
water,  but  that  in  which  the  fish  feed  most  eagerly,  as 
also  when  it  is  useless  trying  to  tempt  them  to  "rise"  or 
**run."  The  old  nostrums  anent  weather  wisdom  are 
mainly  inaccuracies.  In  the  coldest  eastern  or  north- 
eastern wind  we  have  killed  repeatedly  many  a  fine  basket 
of  fish,  owing  to  the  temperature  of  the  water  being  high 
and  unusually  genial  from  some  cause  or  other. 

The  ancient  belief  in  the  stoppage  of  sport  during  a 
thunder-storm  is  not  strictly  true.  Some  little  time  be- 
fore the  breaking  of  the  storm  atmospheric  influence 
appears  to  act  detrimentally,  almost  invariably  through 
the  warmer  months,  but  during  the  storm  itself  the  fish 
will  rise  more  often  than  not,  most  eagerly  at  the  numer- 
ous insects  drowned  during  the  down-pour,  and  this  too, 
whilst  the  electric  fluid  gleams  and  the  thunder  roars 


FLY   FISHING   FOU  TROUT  AI^D   GKAYLIKG.  177 

immediately  overhead,  all  without  visible  effect  upon  the 
fish.  As  regards  the  fisherman  we  fear  the  same  obser- 
vations do  not  apply  with  equal  truth.  The  nearest 
sycamore  tree  or  honeysuckle  hedge  is  sought,  and  the 
angler  is  seldom  to  be  convinced,  save  by  practical  argu- 
ments, that  the  time  for  taking  fish  is  while  the  rain 
falls,  just  as  the  time  for  making  hay  is  while  the  sun 
shines,  as  the  old  adage  has  it. 

Between  the  tyro  and  the  proficient  grayling  fisher 
there  exists  a  wider  gulf  than  is  the  case  with  the  ex- 
perienced and  inexperienced  in  any  other  branch  in  the 
whole  art  of  fishing.  Practical  skill  and  general  artistic 
bearing  are  more  fully  exemplified  in  fishing  for  grayling, 
than  for  trout  and  salmon,  whilst  upon  the  same  ground 
the  unskilled  efforts  of  the  bungler  stand  at  a  yet  more 
glaring  contrast.  Mark  the  long  sweeping  casts  of  the 
adept  across  and  up-stream,  ever  true  to  the  circulating 
eddy,  the  centre  of  which  forms  the  '^bull's-eye"  at 
which  to  aim.  See  the  gradually  whirled  line,  how 
lightly  and  efficiently  it  is  cast,  the  obstructive  force  of 
the  air  and  the  flowing  water  being  all  taken  into  con- 
sideration when  that  measured  swing  is  given.  Observe 
the  varying  tactics  resorted  to  when  called  for  in  varpng 
circumstances,  and  yet  above  all  the  efficient  mode  of 
handling  the  hooked  fish  while  it  makes  determined 
efforts  to  free  itself  from  the  tiny  thread  so  recently 
ignored,  and  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  a  premature  move  to 
other  parts  of  the  stream  through  undue  disturbance  of 
the  water.  Upon  the  other  hand  the  inexperienced  gray- 
ling fisher's  awkwardly  managed  line  is  planted  splash- 
ingly  upon  the  bosom  of  some  tranquil  pool  or  still  deep 
— the  collar,  dancing  and  dangling  in  its  aerial  flight, 
becoming  hopelessly  entangled  (as  it  inevitably  must) 
the  instant  it  nears  the  water,  and  causing  a  break 
larger  than  the  bold  rise  of  a  heavy  fish.  All  these  signs 
;nake  the  presence  of  their  owner  known  and  appreci- 


178  THE   SCIElsTTIFIC   ANGLER. 

ated,  both  upon  the  banks  and  beneath  the  surface  of 
the  water. 

Fly-fishing  at  twilight  and  afterwards  is  prohibited, 
and  justly  so,  in  some  districts.  The  deadly  nature  of 
the  practice  presents  no  recommendations  to  the  true 
sportsman;  nevertheless,  where  the  water  is  over-run 
with  excessively  large  fish,  whose  acquired  wariness  pro- 
hibits them  from  surface  feeding  during  the  day,  they 
may  with  perfect  honesty  of  purpose  be  legitimately 
extracted  at  such  times  as  they  may  deign  to  dine.  The 
cast  for  night  fishing  should  not  exceed  two  yards,  the 
gut  being  of  medium  thickness,  though  round  and  with- 
out flaw  or  blemish.  One  fly  is  ample  to  fish  with, 
though  upon  a  moonlight  night,  the  usual  trio  may  be 
used  with  the  three-yards  lash.  When  the  evening 
shades  gather  and  deepen,  the  fish  will  be  found  to  rise 
more  upon  the  verge  of  the  shadow  thrown  upon  the 
water  by  high  banks,  or  foliage  situate  near.  We  do  not 
commend  the  use  of  salmon  casts  and  swivelled  monster 
moths,  etc.  This  may  be  all  very  well  in  peculiar  sur- 
roundings, when  the  night  is  densely  dark  and  the  water 
well  lined  with  sticks  and  piles,  but  under  these  circum- 
stances we  must  confess  to  seeing  sport  only  in  name. 
In  point  of  sport  and  true  diversion,  there  is  certainly 
more  in  the  gloaming  of  evening  when  the  moonbeams 
'^silver  the  landscape  o'er,"  rendering  the  surrounding 
objects  almost  as  bright  as  when  under  the  orb  of  day. 
Then  may  the  fly-fisher  consciently  ply  his  art  upon  fair 
vantage  ground  and  with  a  clear  conscience. 

The  flies  to  be  used  are  the  largest  and  heaviest  of  the 
day  flies,  such  as  the  large  browns,  cinnamon,  and  stone 
flies.  The  first-nam.ed  form  admirable  copies  of  the 
small  grass  moths,  so  prevalent  late  in  the  summer's 
evening.  The  usual  night  lures,  such  as  the  large  moths 
of  the  customary  shades,  the  coachman  and  the  cater- 
pillar, may  be  used  with  success  in  the  way  alluded  to. 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT   AND   GRAYLING.  179 

With  regard  to  the  best  size  of  moths  to  use,  we  do  not 
advise  them  to  be  too  heavy.  It  has  become  the  prac- 
tice recently  upon  some  waters  to  use  lures  well-nigh  as 
weighty  as  the  American  half-ounce.*  The  size  should 
average  that  of  a  live  May-fly.  An  artificial  dressed  by  us 
to  imitate  the  fluttering  action  of  the  moth  when  upon 
the  water,  is  much  used  in  the  Midlands,  since  its  recent 
introduction — we  refer  to  the  "Dun  Cut."  This  dress- 
ing has  proved  itself  to  more  than  equal  the  usual  repro- 
ductions of  the  moths.  It  is  a  double-hackled  artificial, 
the  feathers  being  dun  and  brown  hen's  breast  feathers 
(usually  used  for  wings),  the  outside  feather  being  dun; 
body,  drab  fur  ribbed  with  silver  twist;  hook,  long 
shanked  Limerick  or  Kendal — May-fly  size. 

Before  the  subject  of  trout  and  grayling  fishing  (which 
has  been  dealt  with  more  in  detail  elsewhere)  is  concluded, 
we  feel  it  incumbent  upon  us  to  make  some  allusion  to 
the  Dove,  upon  whose  banks  resided  the  first  writer  upon 
this,  the  highest  branch  of  the  art  piscatorial,  in  our  land. 
This  is  classic  ground  to  every  follower  of  Walton.  Here 
have  assembled  all  noted  fishermen  since  the  days  in 
which  the  common  sire  of  us  all  trod  its  banks  and 
wielded  the  rod;  and  they  still  come,  though  many  a 
famous  rod  that  was  wont  to  whip  these  waters  is  laid 
away  for  ever.  Every  rock  and  pool  seems  to  embue  one 
with 

"Meek  Walton's  heavenly  memory." 

The  ancient  and  original  fishing-house,  too,  standing 
as  it  does,  scarcely  imparled  by  the  ravages  of  time, 
seems  to  impress  the  mind  with  familiar  associations. 
It  requires  no  great  stretch  of  imagination  to  call  up  the 
venerable  and  benevolent  features  and  stalwart  form  of 
the  "  Modern  Patriarch  Izaak,"  and  his  adopted  son, 

*  The  author  doubtless  alludes  to  the  large  black  bass  flies  sold  in 
America,  which  are  certairsly  heavy  enough  to  kill  a  bass,  if  they  should 
happen  to  strike  it  in  or  out  of  the  water. 


180  THE   SCIEKTiriC    AXGLEE. 

discoursing  pleasantly  whilst  making  flies,  or  rigging  up 
the  tackle  for  the  evening's  rise. 

"  Cheerful,  sage,  and  mild, 

Walton's  discourse  was  like  the  honey  balm, 
Distilled  along  these  waters  wild. 

Smit  with  the  love  of  angling  he  beguiled, 
With  his  adopted  son  the  hours  away, 

Whilst  Cotton  owned  the  fondness  of  a  child 
For  him,  in  whose  glad  company  to  stay, 
Had  made  the  whole  year  pass  like  one  sweet  month  of  May." 

Yes,  the  structure  and  general  appurtenances  are  still 
the  same;  time  has  dealt  most  kindly  with  the  building; 
over  the  portal  the  immortal  inscription,  ^'Piscatorihus 
Sacrum, ^^  remains  still  unobliterated;  every  disciple  of 
the  rod  may  with  veneration  read 

"  His  title  clear  to  enter  here." 

The  Dove  is  noted  for  its  blue  transparency,  hence  the 
name.  Centuries  since  other  waters  were  polluted  in 
comparison  with  the  crystal  stream  of  the  Dove.  The 
renowned  Cotton,  the  Minstrel  of  the  Vale,  thus  sweetly 
sings — 

"  Such  streams  Eome's  Yellow  Tiber  cannot  show; 
The  Herian  Tagus,  or  Ligurian  Po, 
The  Maese,  the  Danube,  and  the  Rhine, 
Are  puddle-water  all  compared  to  thine ; 
And  Loire's  pure  streams  yet  too  polluted  are 
With  thine  much  purer  to  compare  ; 
The  rapid  Garonne  and  the  winding  Seine, 

Are  both  too  mean, 

Beloved  Dove,  with  thee 

To  vie  priority  ; 

Tame  and  Isis,  when  conjoined  submit, 

And  lay  their  trophies  at  thy  silver  feet." 

About  Beresford,  the  scenery  through  which  the 
stream  flows  resembles  much  that  of  Dove-dale;  Beres- 
ford-dale  being  a  sort  of  miniature  representation  of  it. 
In  the  first-named,  the  volume  of  water  is,  of  course, 
greater,  it  being  situate  several  miles  lower-down  stream. 
Trout  and  grayling  are  the  only  fish  here  found,  with 


FLY   FISHING   FOR  TROUT  AND   GRAYLING.  181 

the  exception  of  a  few  eels.  The  trout  predominate 
largely  from  Dove-dale  up-stream;  here  the  best  efforts 
of  the  rodster  are  to  be  brought  into  play  in  order  to 
achieve  even  moderate  successs.  The  water  contains  a 
fair  stock  of  fish,  but  for  education  and  attainments, 
Dove  trout,  and  especially  Dove-dale  trout,  vie  success- 
fully with  those  of  the  Wandle,  Hitchen,  Test,  or  any 
other  stream  wherever  situate;  and  the  adept  upon  the 
Dove  may,  with  perfect  safety,  consider  himself  suffi- 
ciently accomplished  to  rank  amongst  the  first  fly-fishers 
of  his  day. 

"Oh,  Dove,  thou  art  so  clear,  so  bright  and  sweet, 
Men's  choicest  lures  with  scant  approval  meet ; 
Did  not  the  beauteous  Dale  such  charms  reveal, 
The  pilgrim  rodster  oft  regret  would  feel. 
Romantic  vale,  renowned  for  varied  scene. 
Sylvan  abode,  meet  for  a  fah-y  queen  ; 
Rare  gems  of  nature  deck  the  scenes  around, 
"With  wooded  heights  the  lofty  rocks  are  crowued  ; 
Cascades  impetuous  fall  with  arrow  flight ; 
Rainbows  presented  glisten  in  the  light ; 
The  waters,  purling  at  the  angler's  feet, 
In  crystal  streams  and  sparkling  eddies  meet. 
Soft  strains  of  music  borne  upon  the  breeze. 
Resound  from  warbling  choirs,  amidst  the  trees. 
Fair  scenes,  adieu.    Alas  !  charmed  stream,  farewell, 
Where  speckled  trout  and  grayling  dwell." 

W.  S. 


182  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


LIVE  FLY  AND  BEETLE  FISHING. 

Dibbing  or  daping  with  the  natural  fly  is  an  easy  art, 
and  is,  moreover,  a  very  productive  and,  we  may  add,  a 
very  seductive  one,  when  reasonably  practised  upon  a 
densely  wooded  stream.  It  is  often  useful  as  a  means  of 
weeding  out  old  fish,  whose  cannibal  propensities  go  far 
to  exterminate  their  own  species,  as  well  as  their  imme- 
diate neighbors  and  relatives.  There  is  small  scope  for 
skill  in  the  use  of  the  live  fly,  as  employed  under  the 
above  circumstances,  as  the  foliage  lining  the  banks 
shields  the  rodster's  person  from  view,  whilst  the  strug- 
gling lure  accomplishes  the  rest.  The  rod  and  line  must 
necessarily  be  both  short  and  stout  for  the  general  comfort 
of  fishing.  An  ordinary  fly  rod  with  short  top  answers 
admirably  for  the  purpose,  whilst  the  three  or  four  feet 
of  gut  bottom  line  should  be  strong,  round,  and  clear, 
without  a  faulty  place  or  blemish.  Deplorable  loss  often 
ensues  from  carelessness  in  looking  over  the  tackle  before 
commencing  operations.  It  needs  ever  to  be  remembered 
that  the  weakest  place  in  a  line,  be  it  of  what  substance 
it  may,  decides  its  precise  degree  of  strength  throughout, 
as  when  the  testing  tima  arrives,  the  thing  breaks  at  that 
point,  despite  its  strength  elsewhere.  A  flat  or  unduly 
thin  place  in  gut  should  always  be  taken  out  before  loss 
and  damage  are  experienced  from  its  presence. 

The  systems  of  using  the  natural  fly  for  the  allurement 
of  fish,  in  use  at  the  present  day,  are  three  in  number, 
which  may  be  described  as  follows — 1st.  Throwing  or 
casting  in  open  w^ater;  2d.  Midwater  fishing,  or  daping 
Tvith  the  sunken  fly;  3d.  Surface  fishing  and  dibbing. 
The  first  enumerated  is  fully  dealt  with  in  the  Monthly 


LIVE   FLY    AND   BEETLE   FISHING.  183 

Notes.  The  method  of  procedure  to  be  adopted  in  the 
case  of  the  sunken  tly  vanes  but  little  from  that  of  worm 
fishing  without  a  float.  The  fly  is  attached  to  the  hook 
between  the  wings,  the  bend  of  the  hook  to  project  to- 
wards the  tail,  and  two  small  shots  are  fixed  a  foot  or  so 
above  the  hook.  Thus  equipped  the  angler  carefully  in- 
troduces the  lure  to  the  notice  of  the  fish  which  lurk 
under  roots  or  projecting  banks,  etc. ,  always  endeavoring 
to  keep  an  eye  upon  the  bait,  as  the  moment  to  strike  is 
when  the  fish  has  closed  upon  it,  and  leisurely  turns 
away.  By  the  moment's  grace  thus  given,  the  rodster  is 
enabled  to  hook  his  quarry  in  the  corner  of  the  mouth, 
which  is  always  a  desideratum  in  the  case  of  large  fish, 
trout  especially,  their  mouth  being  excessively  hard, 
gristly,  or  bony.  The  movements  of  a  large  trout  are 
always  leisurely,  and  as  the  bait  is  genuine  no  fear  need 
be  entertained  as  to  the  possibility  of  his  rejecting  it, 
during  the  moment's  respite  given. 

Surface  Dibbing,  as  the  name  implies,  consists  in 
working  in  a  natural  way  the  live  flies  upon  the  top  of 
the  water.  In  order  to  do  this  effectually,  the  impaled 
fly  is  made  to  float  and  flutter  by  the  action  given  to  the 
line,  occasionally  settling  upon  the  water  for  a  brief  in- 
terval. Just  before  twilight,  on  a  summer's  evening, 
this  system  of  angling  is  very  deadly,  and  more  especially 
so  on  small  brooks.  Here  the  fish  are  then  wide-awake, 
and  upon  the  forage  for  moths,  minnows,  and  other 
legitimate  food  which  approaches  within  grabbing  dis- 
tance; and  any  other  larger  insects  prevalent  that  maybe 
placed  before  their  notice  are  extremely  likely  to  be  ab- 
sorbed. The  large  white  grass  moths  are  capital  lures 
for  this  purpose.  The  flies  most  in  repute  for  daping 
and  dibbmg  purposes,  are  the  May  fly,  stone  and  cinna- 
mon flies,  the  blue  bottle,  the  alder  and  oak  flies,  as  also 
the  common  house  fly.  The  first  of  these  is  usually  car- 
ried in  a  small  basket,  specially  made  for  the  purpose, 


184  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLEK. 

which  is  strung  upon  the  creel  strap.  The  remainder, 
being  flat-winged  flies,  may  be  kept  in  a  glass  bottle,  the 
cork  having  a  small,  gradually  widening  nick  made  in 
one  side,  to  allow  the  passage  of  one  fly  only  when  par- 
tially drawn,  as  also  to  admit  air.  A  fly  will  always 
frequent  the  opening,  no  matter  how  quickly  he  may 
be  extracted.  The  size  of  the  hook  usually  employed  is 
a  No.  7  Kendal,  with  shortened  shank.  Sometimes  two 
flies  are  placed  upon  the  hook  at  once,  with  the  smaller 
of  them  next  the  point.  This  is  often  found  to  answer, 
as  the  hooks  are  more  obscured  and  the  bait  more  sig- 
nificant and  tempting  to  a  large  fish.  Always  fish  over 
the  eddy  of  a  rise,  and  whenever  the  bank  of  wood  of 
any  description  admits,  keep  well  back  from  the  river 
side;  even  the  still  pools  may  be  found  productive.  In 
this  case  the  nearest  bank  must  be  fished  first,  afterwards 
the  middle  and  opposite  side,  and  then  the  open  water. 
The  instant  the  fish  rises  at  your  fly  you  must  strike  as 
in  artificial  fly  fishing,  and  play  as  is  usual  in  that  branch 
of  the  art.  For  this  open  dibbing,  a  full  length  of  fly 
cast  is  necessary,  and  that  too  of  fine  substance.  The 
artistic  method  of  fly  fishing  with  the  blow-line,  as  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Notes  on  the  Months,  is  much  practised 
in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  upon  the  lochs  containing  trout, 
more  especially  when  the  May  fly  is  up. 

Beetles  of  every  kind  form  admirable  baits  for  trout, 
as  also  for  chub,  and  other  fish.  These  are  to  be  had 
"artificial,"  and  when  a  maggot  or  wasp-grub  is  fixed 
upon  the  hook,  they  are  found  quite  as  killing  as  the 
'^naturals."  Cockchafers,  cockroaches,  and  dockers  are 
all  deemed  acceptable  to  the  hungering  fish,  during  the 
season  of  low  waters  and  scant  food. 

When  either  daping  or  dibbing,  care  should  be  taken 
to  keep  a  taut  and  straight  line,  as  intervening  slack  line 
renders  it  a  moral  impossibility  to  handle  the  bait  and. 
strike  effectually,  more  especially  when  angling  through 


NOTES   ON"   THE   MOI^THS   FOR   ELY-FISHING.         185 

a  small  opening  in  the  bushes  bordering  a  brook.  In 
small  places,  the  small  lady-cow  (the  fisherman's  Marlow 
Buzz  or  Ooch-y-bondu)  is  used  as  a  live  lure  in  fine  water. 
These  hardy  little  insects  do  not  leave  the  hook  so  readily 
as  the  more  slender  and  frail  flies.  A  capital  plan  of 
using  them  is  to  fit  up  a  fine  four-yard  gut  collar,  or 
lash,  with  four  of  the  msects,  three  as  droppers  and  one 
at  the  point,  the  former  being  attached  to  fine  gut  hooks 
{No.  8  or  9  Kendal),  when  they  may  be  cast  as  ''arti- 
ficials" when  trout  are  shy;  and  when  there  is  a  scarcity 
of  ephemeral  and  other  water  order  of  flies  this  method 
often  proves  extremely  killing. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

NOTES  ON  THE  MONTHS  FOR  FLY-FISHING.* 
FEBRUARY,  f 

The  angler,  as  a  rule,  commences  to  angle  for  trout 
and  grayling  upon  St.  David's  Day,  the  fiirst  of  March, 
when,  according  to  the  calendar,  ''  fly-fishing  begins ;" 

*  This  chapter  is  the  longest  and  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the 
book ;  the  reader  will  note,  however,  that  for  fishing  on  our  native 
streams,  but  few,  if  any  anglers  subdivide  their  stock  of  flies  into  the 
so-called  killing  lures  for  each  month  of  the  season.  Dark  small  flies 
for  bright  days,  pellucid  or  shallow  waters— bright  big  flies  for  dark 
days,  deep  or  discolored  waters— appear  to  answer  the  needs  of  the 
angler,  and  the  erratic  fancies  of  his  quarry.  A  dozen  or  so  of  standard 
flies  of  approved  qualities  amply  "  fills  the  bill."  The  question  of  color, 
form,  size,  and  number,  will  always  be  an  open  one,  and  withal  a  delight- 
ful theme  of  discussion  among-  the  enthusiasts  of  the  art;  albeit,  it 
should  be  remembered  Ihat  ''uncle"  Thad.  Norris,  the  father  of  Ameri- 
can angling,  pinned  his  faith  to  a  few  chosen  feathers ;  using,  of  the 
winged  flies,  only  the  Brown  Hen  and  the  Coachman,  and  of  the  hackles, 
only  a  brown,  a  black,  and  a  ginger. 

t  It  will  be  noted  that  the  season  for  trout  commences  in  British  wa- 
ters two  months  earlier  than  with  us. 


186  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AN"GLER. 

but  we  would  recommend  the  tyro  to  try  his  hand  about 
the  middle  of  February,  when  he  will  be  sure  to  effect 
captures  that  will  give  him  a  relish  to  follow  the  pursuit, 
and  exhilarate  him  to  become  an  adept  in  the  ^'flying" 
art.  We  note  that  the  majority  of  youthful  beginners 
take  their  trial  trip  in  July  or  August,  flogging  assid- 
uously when  the  sun  shines  powerfully,  and  leaving  dis- 
pirited with  their  ill-success,  just  as  the  fish  begin  to 
feed  at  sunset.  The  angler  should  be  at  the  water-side 
from  eleven  to  three  o'clock — it  is  little  use  starting 
earlier,  as  the  fish  do  not  rise  freely  except  in  the  middle 
of  the  day.  Slow-running  streams  and  still  deeps  are 
the  most  likely  places  on  which  to  cast.  We  recommend 
the  red  fly,  the  blue  dun,  or  February  flapper,  and  the 
ordinary  rough  bumble  to  make  up  the  cast,  as  being  the 
most  likely  trio  for  early  spring-fishing.  The  last  named 
is  only  a  fancy  fly,  but  is  an  excellent  killer  in  spring  and 
autumn.  To  the  experienced  fly-fisher,  it  is  a  well  known 
fact  that  few  flies  rise  to  the  surface  of  their  liquid  element 
while  the  river  is  impregnated  with  snow  ^'^ broth."  This 
cold  stimulant  is  no  inducement  for  the  little  insect  to 
quit  its  sheath  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  but  when  the 
genial  influence  exercised  by  the  rays  of  the  sun  pierces 
into  its  retreat,  then  the  small  fly  quits  its  abode,  rises  to 
the  surface,  spreads  its  wings,  and  commences  life's 
voyage,  which  probably  ere  long  is  cut  short  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  the 

"  Pearl  tipped  snout 
Of  the  speckled  trout." 

The  Red  fly  first  makes  its  appearance  in  this  month. 
Its  wings  and  body  are  of  an  olive  color,  but  after  two  or 
three  sunny  days  its  legs  and  body  assume  a  russet-brown, 
and  as  the  weather  becomes  warmer  its  color  changes 
until  it  attains  a  rleep  ruddy  hue.  The  prevailing  shade 
in  March  and  April  of  both  legs  and  body  resembles  that 
of  a  coffee  bean,  though  slightly  claret-colored  towards 


KOTES   OK  THE   MONTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         187 

the  tail.  The  Eed  fly,  we  believe,  is  common  to  all 
waters  containing  trout  or  grayling.  The  Welsh  anglers 
consider  ifc  one  of  the  best  flies  that  can  be  used,  indeed, 
it  is  sometimes  called  the  "  Welsh  fly."  In  some  districts 
in  this  country  its  local  appellation  is  **  Old  Jce,"  in 
others  the  '"^ Early  Spring  Red,"  and  the  ^^Spring  Brown," 
and  another  local  name  is  the  **  March  Brown."  The 
Red  fly's  wings  lie  nearly  flat  on  its  back,  the  wings  of 
the  March  Brown  are  almost  upright,  after  the  manner 
of  the  duns  and  other  ephemerals.  Many  a  neatly  folded 
packet  finds  its  way  into  our  hands,  containing  naturals 
for  identification,  and  as  the  March  Brown  proper,  like 
the  May  fly,  does  not  frequent  all  waters,  this  fly,  acting 
in  a  manner  as  a  substitute,  causes  endless  misconceptions; 
and  vast  numbers  of  the  Red  fly  come  to  hand  which  are 
invariably  mistaken  for  the  March  Brown.  The  Blue 
Dun,  or  February  Flapper,  so-called  because  of  its  flutter- 
ing on  the  water  more  than  any  other  dun,  is  of  a 
smoky-blue  hue  all  over,  and  when  once  seen  can  never 
be  mistaken. 

MARCH. 

The  angler  should  be  at  the  water-side  from  eleven  to 
four  o'clock.  The  fish  not  yet  having  recovered  their 
full  vigor  after  the  winter  season,  are  to  be  found  on  the 
slow  running  streams  and  still  deeps.  The  Red  fly.  Blue 
and  Cockwinged  Duns,  Cowdung  fly,  and  March  Brown, 
are  the  most  abundant  flies  on  the  water,  and  therefore 
are  the  best  to  be  used.  A  description  of  the  Red  fly  has 
been  jriven  under  February.  For  particulars  of  the  Blue 
and  Cockwinged  Duns,  see  page  130.  The  Cowdung  fly 
is  a  common  insect,  the  appearance  of  which  is  v/ell  known 
to  all.  It  is  in  boisterous  weather  plentiful  on  the  water. 
This  is  a  land  fly,  and  is  found  in  profusion  on  rich 
meadow  land  where  cows  have  been  pastured.  These  in- 
sects rise  from  the  earth  with  the  first  days  of  spring. 


188  THE   SCIEXTIFIC   AI^-GLER. 

On  cold  windy  days,  or  in  a  sharp  wind  succeeding  a  few 
lioiirs  of  bright  open  weather,  when  the  inclement  season 
has  terminated,  these  flies  are  carried  by  the  wind  upon 
the  water,  the  surface  of  which  being  thus  quickly  be- 
sprinkled with  struggling  atoms  of  life,  the  attention  of 
the  hunger-bitten  trout  is  speedily  arrested,  and  under 
these  circumstances  they  seldom  fail  to  shake  off  their 
lethargy  to  feed  freely  upon  them.  It  is  the  best  fly  that 
can  be  used  early  and  late  in  the  day  through  the  whole 
of  this  month,  and  occasionally  in  April. 

The  March  Brown  is  a  general  fayorite  with  both  fish 
and  fishermen  throughout  Britain.  In  Wales  it  is  termed 
the  Cob  fly.  In  the  northern  counties  of  England  it  is 
known  as  the  brown  or  dun  drake ;  but,  though  in  differ- 
ent localities  the  name  yaries,  the  insect  itself  is  charac- 
teristically the  same  everywhere.  The  wings  are  nearly 
erect,  after  the  manner  of  all  the  duns,  the  color  being  a 
beautiful  freckled  brown,  and  the  legs  the  same  shade. 
The  body  yaries,  but  is  generally  a  decided  rusty  hue, 
with  yellow  ribs  protruding,  and  it  resembles  the  green 
drake  or  May  fly  more  closely  than  any  other  species.  It 
is  two-thirds  the  size,  and  goes  through  similar  changes. 
As  the  weather  gets  a  little  warmer  these  flies  appear  a 
shade  smaller  in  size,  and  lighter  in  color.  This  is  called 
the  Turkey  Brown,  though  exactly  the  same  ephemeral. 
It  is  often  erroneously  supposed  to  be  the  female  March 
Brown.  This  large  brown,  with  its  metamorphosis,  the 
Great  Eed  Spinner,  lasts  until  May,  and  eyen  June,  and 
appears  again  in  August,  but  smaller  still  in  size.  In  the 
Scotch  Highlands  it  is  used  as  a  general  fly  throughout 
the  summer,  and  is  a  capital  killer.  Many  a  weighty 
pannier  haye  we  had  the  pleasure  of  creeling  through  its 
agency,  for  when  once  really  well  on  the  water,  which  it 
annually  is  on  most  streams,  better  sport  is  not  afforded 
by  any  fly.  The  Great  Eed  Spinner  referred  to  is  an 
elegant  fly,  and  is  sometimes  a  good  killer,  but  as  in  this 


KOTES   ON"  THE  MOJNTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         189 

stage  it  lays  the  eggs  that  propagate  its  species,  like  all 
the  other  spinners,  it  is  scarcely  more  than  a  film  or 
shell,  after  having  fulfilled  its  natural  functions,  and  it 
is  no  matter  of  surprise  that  the  lusty  fresh  browns  are 
more  appreciated  by  the  fish. 

It  is  the  last  Sunday  in  March.  Nature  is  again  assum- 
ing her  green  garb,  and  the  birds  are  Joyously  carolling 
their  overflowing  meed  of  earthly  bliss  at  the  return  of 
ever  welcome  spring.  Tempted  by  the  promise  thus  held 
out  of  an  enjoyable  commune  with  nature,  you,  after  the 
morning's  devotions  are  over,  indulge  in  a  quiet  stroll  by 
the  neighboring  trout  stream.  After  a  time  you  observe 
what  mayhap  had  previously  escaped  your  notice,  namely, 
that  there  is  quite  a  number  of  up-winged  *' browns" 
about.  You  approach  for  a  nearer  inspection.  A  glance 
at  the  water  proves  the  fish  to  be  equally  curious.  Dex- 
terously capturing  a  specimen  in  your  hat,  you  pronounce 
it  a  March  brown.  The  fish,  too,  seem  to  have  made  a 
similar  discovery,  as  all  the  way  down  stream  you  are 
treated  to  a  constant  repetition  of  the  sweetest  sound  in 
the  whole  range  of  music  to  the  angler,  ^^the  plump 
little  swish  of  a  rising  fish,"  and  you  console  yourself 
with  the  reflection  that,  as  the  March  brown  is  well  on 
to-day  there  will  be  murder  to-morrow.  By  ten  the  next 
morning  you  are  therefore  upon  the  scene  of  action.  As 
the  slanting  rays  of  Old  Sol  penetrate  the  murky  clouds 
the  flies  commence  to  rise  from  the  bed  of  the  river, 
sweeping  in  battalions  up  and  down  stream,  or  buoyantly 
breasting  the  miniature  rippling  waves.  Having  hastily 
put  together  your  rod,  and  rigged  up  your  cast  with  a 
trio  of  March  browns,  you  approach  the  stream;  first 
wetting  your  line  by  way  of  prelude,  and  carefully  meas- 
uring your  distance,  you  cast  in  the  midst  of  the  per- 
petuated eddies.  '"There!"  you  hook,  almost  at  the 
same  instant,  two  fish,  one  on  the  bob  and  the  other  on 
the  stretcher,  which  immediately  dash  counter  to  each 


100  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

other,  smashing  up  your  delicately  fine  cast.  The  lesson 
here  experienced  teaches  that  the  extra-fine  grayling  lash 
of  the  previous  autumn  is  not  equally  adapted  for  heavy 
trout.  But  lose  no  time.  Quick!  Look  out  something 
more  substantial.  Ah,  to  be  sure!  this  looks  more  like 
it.  Pull  out  the  coils  by  drawing  the  gut  slowly  through 
your  fingers.  We  must  now  '^rig  up"  again  with  fairly 
substantial  artificials;  which  done,  we  move  on  a  little 
ahead.  Now,  very  carefully  by  the  foot  of  yonder  old 
alder.  There,  splendid!  You  have  him.  Gently!  Mind 
the  weeds  and  hold  the  point  of  the  rod  well  up.  Be 
careful!  He  exhibits  a  strong  desire  to  embrace  that  old 
stump.  Ah!  keep  his  head  well  up,  and  take  in  line 
with  your  left  hand.  Look  Otit!  There  is  some  spurt  in 
him  still;  show  him  due  courtesy  by  paying  away  line 
with  due  reserve  nevertheless.  Now  he  wearies,  and.  lies 
athw^art  the  glistening  surface  of  the  water,  as  pretty  a 
contrast  to  its  silvery  ripples  as  can  well  be  imagined. 
Here  we  are  at^  last,  with  a  splended  one-and-a-half 
pounder,  which  ultimately  proves  but  a  type  of  a  dozen 
or  more  that  grace  our  basket  at  sundown.  The  only 
rivers  of  the  north  that  the  March  brown  does  not  fre- 
quent are  the  Tay  and  Tweed.  Upon  every  mountain 
burn  and  moorland  stream  this  fly  is  a  standard  killer. 
The  rough  bumble  is  also  an  excellent  lure. 

APRIL. 

This  is  the  best  month  in  the  year  for  fly  fishing.  The 
proverbial  showers  which  characterize  the  month  have 
the  double  effect  of  drowning  the  flies,  and  stripping  the 
water  of  its  transparency;  indeed,  the  more  inclement 
the  weather,  the  greater  chance  of  sport.  The  flies  are 
more  sturdy  than  in  the  summer  months,  getting  more 
delicate  as  the  season  advances. 

The  flies  recommended  for  last  month  will  be  found 
equally  serviceable  in  this,  especially  if   the  season  is 


NOTES   OK   THE   MONTHS    FOR   FLY-FISHING.  191 

rather  backward,  the  weather  retarding  the  progress  of 
the  little  insects  in  proportion  to  its  severity.  There  are 
the  Yellow  Dun  of  April  (two  shades),  Pale  Bkie  Dun, 
Ecd  Spinner,  Sand  fly,  Stone  fly,  and  Fosters  interme- 
diate. The  Iron  Blue  Dun  comes  on  in  this  month,  but 
is  much  more  numerous  in  the  next,  for  which  see  de- 
scription. The  Yellow  Duns  of  April  (two  shades)  and 
the  Pale  Blue  Dun,  being  April  specimens  of  the  Olive 
Dun  (ephemerals)  are  of  great  importance;  indeed,  I 
look  upon  this  fly  in  its  various  stages  as  being  the  most 
useful  to  the  angler  through  the  whole  season.  This  fly, 
after  living  three  days,  casts  its  coat,  and  then  appears  as 
the  Eed  Spinner.  These  flies  whirl  in  clouds  a  distance 
above  the  water,  frequently  alighting  on  the  surface; 
every  time  they  do  so  they  deposit  an  egg,  which,  as  we 
have  observed  elsewhere,  produces  duns  of  the  olive  fam- 
ily, ranging  in  shade  from  the  blue  dun  to  the  pale 
evening  white,  according  to  the  temperature  of  the  water 
and  weather,  when  the  larva  attains  its  maturity.  The 
Eed  Spinner  is  a  delicately  transparent  fly,  the  legs  are 
fiery  brown,  the  tail  double  the  length  of  the  dun's,  the 
body  a  ruddy  yellow.  In  consequence  of  the  tails  being 
long,  it  is  necessary  to  put  them  on  the  artificials,  though 
not  requisite  in  the  case  of  the  duns.  As  the  fish  gener- 
ally rise  at  the  tail-end  of  the  fly  we  have  found  it  detri- 
mental in  hooking,  especially  when  rabbit's  whiskers  are 
used,  as  is  generally  the  case.  When  we  do  attach  the 
tails,  we  use  three  fibres  of  a  large  cock's  hackle.  To- 
wards evening  is  the  best  time  to  use  these  flies,  as  in  the 
heat  of  the  day  they  take  refuge  in  the  foliage  of  bushes 
and  small  trees  on  the  banks  of  the  stream,  but  at  sun- 
set appear  in  great  numbers.  The  duns  are  principally 
used  at  mid-day,  the  light  April  Dun,  and  Pale  Blue 
Dun  on  light  genial  days,  the  Dark  April  Dun  on  dull 
cloudy  days.  It  maybe  as  well  to  remark  that,  if  the  water 
be  clear,  with  a  bright  sun,  it  will  be  useless  to  fish  on 


192  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLEE. 

the  still  deeps  and  slow-running  streams;  but  eddies, 
small  holes,  and  rapid  running  streams,  are  the  best 
places  to  fish.  Should,  however,  a  strong  breeze  dis- 
turb the  surface  of  the  water,  the  angler  may  pursue  his 
sport  on  the  smoother  reaches.  Foster's  intermediate 
will  be  found  yery  effective  when  duns  are  on  the  water. 
This  is  a  copy  of  all  the  duns  prior  to  their  re-appearance 
as  spinners.  It  is  well  known  that  fish  invariably  seize 
sickly  or  maimed  insects,  or  small  fry,  etc.,  from  the 
midst  of  their  more  lively  companions.  The  Sand  fly 
is  the  color  of  reddish  sand;  it  is  a  flat-winged  fly,  and 
is  very  plentiful  in  this  month  and  the  next,  and  is  a 
good  killer  when  there  is  no  quantity  of  any  particular 
flies  on  the  water. 

The  Stone  fly  is  a  flat-winged  fly;  the  wings  and  body 
are  of  a  dark  stone  color,  the  latter  is  strongly  marked 
with  yellow  ribs;  the  legs  are  of  a  greenish  brown,  and 
these  it  uses  with  extreme  activity.  When  not  on  the 
water  it  frequents  stones  and  pebbles  by  the  sides  of 
streams,  on  the  rapid  parts  of  which  the  artificial  should 
be  used.  Many  fish  are  taken  by  dibbling  with  the  natu- 
ral fly  near  the  roots  of  overhanging  bushes.  It  resem- 
bles a  beetle  in  its  flight,  falls  very  heavy  on  the  water, 
and  is  a  substantial  bait  for  large  flsh.  On  some  streams 
it  is  known  as  the  May-fly,  as  the  green  drake  does  not 
appear  on  those  waters.  It  is  a  water-fly,  and  lasts  from 
the  beginning  of  April  to  the  middle  of  June. 

The  Grannum,  or  Green-tail,  makes  its  appearance  in 
this  month.  This  is  a  flat-winged  fly,  of  the  size  and 
shape  of  the  Sand  fly,  with  the  addition  of  a  green  ap- 
pendage at  the  end  of  the  body,  which  is  its  egg-pouch. 
This  fly  is  quite  a  favorite  with  fishermen  in  April,  but 
we  confess  we  have  seldom  done  much  with  it  until  the 
latter  part  of  summer. 


ifOTES   OK  THE  M01TTH8  POP.  FL"X-PISH:ilirG.         193 
MAY. 

At  this  season  of  the  year  the  fish  leave  the  deep  water; 
and  sport  on  small  streams  is  now  good.  The  best  flies 
for  this  month  are  the  Hare's  Ear,  Yellow  Dun  of  May, 
Iron  Blue,  and  its  transformation  the  Jenny  Spinner,  the 
Alder  fly,  and  the  Yellow  Sally.  The  Green  Drake,  or 
May  fly,  seldom  appears  on  any  stream  before  the  last 
week  in  May  or  the  beginning  of  June,  under  which 
month  we  give  a  descriptive  account  of  the  various  meth- 
ods of  using  it.  The  little  Iron  Blue  will  now  be  found 
very  abundant  upon  most  waters,  especially  in  the  Mid- 
land and  Southern  counties.  Its  local  appellations  are 
numerous,  but  being  precisely  the  color  of  a  piece  of  new 
iron,  the  very  appropriate  and  descriptive  term.  Iron 
Blue,  is  more  generally  adopted.  The  fly  appears  a  shade 
lighter  upon  the  body  in  this  month,  a  mauve  color  pre- 
vailing. This  fly  assumes  no  other  name  upon  under- 
going his  change  of  color  in  the  body,  but  is  universally 
recognized  as  being  one  and  the  same  fly.  Were  this  the 
case  with  the  larger  species  of  duns,  much  complication 
would  be  avoided.  To  the  entomological  student,  the 
habits  of  this  little  insect  form  an  interesting  and  amus- 
ing study.  It  is  extremely  hardy,  being  a  lover  of  in- 
clement weather.  Its  water  nympha  frequents  the  cold 
spring  heads  during  the  whole  summer,  rising  to  the  sur- 
face in  clouds  whenever  the  weather  happens  to  be  dull, 
with  obscure  sun.  A  cloudy  morning  will  entice  myriads 
from  the  watery  depths,  the  fish  being  in  turn  allured 
from  their  accustomed  haunts  in  the  bed  of  the  river  to 
the  surface  of  the  water,  where  they  regale  themselves 
upon  these  prim  little  yacht-like  insects.  Great  execu- 
tion may  often  be  effected  through  the  medium  of  a  good 
copy  of  this  especial  favorite  of  the  fish,  even  in  the 
hands  of  an  indifferent  rodster,  though  it  is  not  to  be  in- 
ferred that  any  artificial,  or  even  a  bad  rendering  of  the 
9 


194  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

Iron  Blue  will  be  equally  effective  as  "when  the  light  col- 
ored ** blues"  are  absorbing  the  attention  of  the  fish. 
The  dark  shade  will,  in  clear  water,  often  fail  to  accom- 
plish much;  in  these  circumstances,  no  matter  how  well 
the  fish  may  be  rising,  other  '^artificials,"  infallible  as 
they  may  be  in  their  seasons,  will  prove  utterly  useless. 

Whilst  fishing  the  Kennet  upon  one  occasion,  not  very 
long  ago,  a  rather  striking  instance  of  this  came  before 
our  notice.  Out  of  a  round  half-dozen  of  fishermen  upon 
the  length  we  were  about  to  fish,  there  were  two  northern 
anglers,  spider  theorists.  These  gentlemen,  being 
strongly  prejudiced  against  the  southern  regimen,  had 
very  eloquently  declaimed,  prior  to  our  setting  forth, 
against  the  absurdity  of  attempting  to  copy  any  special' 
fly,  maintaining  that  when  fish  are  inclined  to  feed,  one 
fly  is  as  good  as  another,  so  long  as  the  size  is  somewhere 
near  the  mark,  adding  that  when  fish  were  not  inclined 
for  feeding  '^^  every  conceivable  object  in  the  fly-book 
would  fail  to  tempt  them." 

Finding  verbal  arguments  ineffective,  we  had  adjourned 
to  the  river's  brim  to  try  the  effect  of  practical  ones. 
The  day  opened  bright  and  clear,  with  no  flies  on  the 
water,  and  no  fish  on  the  rise,  in  which  circumstances  our 
Scotch  friends  wisely,  in  their  own  opinion,  declined  to 
fish.  The  remainder  of  the  party,  upon  the  other  hand, 
rigged  up  with  double-hooked  Palmers,  and  commenced. 
These  are  cast  on  the  water  the  same  as  the  fly,  and  are 
then  allowed  to  sink  and  move  with  the  current.  After 
a  few  fish  had  been  allured  from  unseen  haunts  in  this 
manner,  to  the  amazement  of  the  north  countrymen,  they 
protested  that  alluring  ointment  must  have  been  used, 
which  imputation  was  indignantly  resented  by  several  of 
the  company,  who  affirmed  that  the  sense  of  sight  in  fish 
was  all  they  attempted  to  deceive;  that  no  modern  fisher- 
man believed  in  the  efficiency  of  obnoxious  ointments, 
and  other  pigments,  and  that  the  only  reason  that  Wal- 


NOTES   ON"  THE   MONTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         195 

ton  and  Cotton  shone  above  their  numerous  contempo- 
raries so  conspicuously  was  owing  to  the  fact  of  their 
having  proved  themselves  to  be  half -a- century  ahead  of 
their  times,  by  ignoring  such  like  trash.  About  noon  a 
smart  breeze  sprang  up,  the  sun  being  occasionally  ob- 
scured by  drifting  clouds,  and  an  odd  fish  or  two  now 
began  to  rise.  The  prim  little  Iron  Blues  quickly  ap- 
peared, as  though  by  magic,  on  the  water's  surface,  jaunt- 
ily riding  the  tiny  billows  in  quaint  style.  Now  all  set 
to  with  right  good  will.  The  party  separated  for  busi- 
ness, and  during  the  ensuing  hour-and-a-half  we  had 
taken  as  many  fish  as  could  be  conveniently  creeled,  as 
had  also  a  neighboring  rodster,  when  one  of  the  Scotch- 
men hove  in  sight  around  a  sudden  turn.  '*  Now  for  an 
exemplification  of  the  relative  virtues  of  spider  and  flies," 
observes  our  neighbor.  **^  Science  versus  ignorance  and 
presumption,"  was  our  response. 

Scotchman — '*  The  fish  are  really  playing  and  not  feed- 
ing; I  have  risen  dozens,  but  have  not  hooked  a  single 
fish." 

"Indeed,"  was  the  reply,  *'but  then  you  see  you  do 
not  use  alluring  ointments!  " 

At  this  moment  our  acquaintance  of  the  morning 
hooked  a  good  fish,  which,  judging  from  the  unceremoni- 
ous way  in  which  it  was  landed  over  some  weeds,  must 
have  been  hooked  very  well  indeed. 

*'  They  would  seem  to  be  feeding  a  little  better  here- 
abouts. " 

'^Rather,"  sagely  observes  our  friend,  as  he  opened  his 
well-filled  creel  to  squeeze  in  his  late  capture. 

'^By  heavens!"  ejaculates  the  disciple  of  typical  delu- 
sion, '^you  don't  mean  to  say  you  have  taken  that  basket 
of  fish  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  That's  precisely  what  I  do  mean  to  say,  nevertheless; 
and  what  is  more,  I  will  wager  the  price  of  a  dinner  that 


196  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

each  of  our  fly-fishers  has  accomplished  something 
similar." 

*^  Oh,  you  may  take  my  word  for  it  there  has  not  heen 
a  fish  killed  down  below;  but  I  tell  you  what,  I  am  going 
in  for  one  or  two  here; "  saying  which,  he  assiduously  set 
himself  to  work.  Our  offers  of  the  taking  fly  were  de- 
clined by  him,  although  the  tongue  of  every  fish  taken 
was  seen  to  be  covered  with  one  particular  fly,  and  that 
fly  the  Iron  Blue.  Obstinacy  and  prejudice  still  held 
rampant  sway,  obstructing  the  path  to  success,  and  damp- 
ing the  spirits  of  the  inner  man  as  effectually  as  the  pro- 
verbial Scotch  mist  does  the  external  one.  Some  fish 
were  still  to  be  seen  rising. 

*^I  thought  I  had  that  fish,  he  rose  within  two  inches 
of  me  at  something  else;  it's  very  strange  they  will  not 
take  the  bait." 

"It  would  be  strange  indeed  if  they  did,"  was  the 
reply. 

After  witnessing  more  futile  efforts  on  the  part  of  the 
rodster  with  the  infallible  artificials,  we  landed  a  small 
fish  or  two,  evidently  to  his  no  small  discomfort,  and  then 
wound  up  for  the  day.  By  the  time  all  had  met  at  the 
hotel,  every  creel  was  found  to  contain  fish,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  those  of  the  free-thinkers,  who  returned  in 
company,  troubled  and  dispirited.  It  is  needless  for  us 
to  add  that  next  morning  saw  them  on  board  an  early 
train  bound  for  other  latitudes,  where  it  is  hoped  they 
will  benefit  by  the  lesson  taught  by  experience. 

The  Jenny  Spinner  is  the  metamorphosis  of  the  Iron 
Blue.  It  is  of  a  universal  milk-white  color,  with  the 
exception  of  two  crimson  bands,  one  at  each  extremity  of 
the  body.  In  this  new  dress,  the  insect,  after  the  manner 
of  all  other  spinners,  is  prevalent  at  sunset,  whenever  the 
Iron  Blue  has  been  well  on  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
which  generally  is  the  case  on  all  cloudy  days,  between 
April  and  October,  though  the  color  of  this  fly  changes 


NOTES  01^  THE  MOKTHS   FOR  FLY-EISHIlJrG.         197 

somewhat  during  this  period.  In  August  the  Iron  Blue 
assumes  a  more  olive  east  upon  the  body;  in  September 
and  October  the  precise  shade  and  color  in  wing,  leg,  and 
body  is  the  same  as  the  Olive  Dun  of  the  same  period, 
having  a  rusty  shade  upon  the  body  precisely  similar,  the 
only  difference  being  in  point  of  size.  These  little  duns 
are  sometimes  erroneously  supposed  to  be  half-matured 
Olive  Duns;  but  flies  do  not  grow  or  expand  gradually, 
they  are  full  sized  when  they  quit  their  sheaths,  as  in  the 
larva  and  pupa  state  they  feed  voraciously,  laying  up  an 
internal  store  which  lasts  them  the  remainder  of  their 
existence,  as  we  have  elsewhere  observed.  The  Jenny 
Spinner  is  a  good  killer,  even  when  the  water  is  extremely 
fine.  The  Yellow  Dun  of  May  is  very  prevalent  on  fine 
days,  when  it  should  be  on  the  cast.  The  Alder  fly  is 
very  abundant  from  about  the  last  week  in  May  to  the 
middle  of  June.  It  is  a  flat-winged  fly,  and  comes  from 
a  water  nympha.  The  wings  are  of  a  dull  brown,  veined, 
the  body  being  a  dark  claret,  and  the  legs  of  a  rusty  black 
shade.  It  is  a  great  favorite  with  trout  and  chub,  par- 
ticularly towards  evening.  The  natural  insect  may  be 
used  for  dibbing,  it  being  a  large  fly,  though  slightly 
varied  in  different  localities.  The  Black  Gnat  is  a  very 
small  fly,  which  is  a  great  favorite  with  trout  and  gray- 
ling, when  fully  on  the  water.  The  fisherman's  Black 
Gnat  is  a  small  winged  fly,  and  is  not  to  be  confounded 
with  the  angler's  plagues  or  pests,  so  prevalent  at  the 
latter  part  of  the  season;  indeed,  the  naturalists  aver  that 
it  is  not  a  gnat  in  reality,  that  term  being  correct  only  in 
the  case  of  the  minute  black  smuts  referred  to,  which  re- 
semble nothing  better  than  a  fine  speck  of  soot.  The 
copies,  however,  of  the  Black  Gnat,  generally  speaking, 
are  much  too  large,  being  nearer  the  size  of  a  Bliffe  Bottle. 
The  same  observation  also  applies  to  the  Iron  Blue,  the 
Jenny  Spinner,  and  other  small  flies.  Just  when  the 
May  fly  begins  to  appear  the  gnats  generally  come  on  in 


198  THE  SCIENTIFIC   AJi^^GLER. 

clouds,   they  being    the   forerunners    of    this    celebra- 
ted fly. 

JU]!^E. 

As  this  month  opens,  the  nymphae  of  the  Drake,  as  a 
general  rule,  arrive  at  a  sufficient  state  of  maturity  to 
essay  a  change  of  element.  They  become  active  prior  to 
the  impending  change,  and  by  their  movements  in  the 
bed  of  the  water  attract  the  attention  of  the  trout,  which 
feed  upon  them  for  some  week  or  ten  days  before  the 
great  and  continued  rising.  Just  as  the  aquatic  insect 
begins  to  change  into  aerial  being,  the  attention  of  the  fish 
is  not  attracted  by  them.  Eish  appreciate  the  quantity 
as  well  as  the  quality  of  their  edibles;  therefore,  as  long 
as  the  majority  of  the  insects  remain  undeveloped  in  the 
water,  their  attention  is  monopolized  by  them.  When, 
however,  the  surface  is  plenteously  laden  with  feathery 
atoms  of  life,  they  speedily  become  as  bold  as  the  angler 
could  desire. 

Before  fully  entering  on  the  subject  of  Drake  fishing, 
it  would  be  as  well,  perhaps,  to  enumerate  the  small  flies 
that  are  killers,  more  especially  early  and  late  in  the  day, 
before  the  May  flies  or  Drakes  appear.  These  we  give  as 
under:-  Little  Chap,  Black  Gnat,  Oak  fly.  Alder  fly,  and 
the  Spinners.  These  naturals  often  in  part  accompany 
the  Drake  upon  the  water,  before  and  after  its  appear- 
ance. The  fish  feed  upon  them  when  prevalent;  before 
ten  A.  M.  and  after  six  p.  m.  being  the  most  likely  times 
for  their  proving  useful;  though  it  is  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon to  find  the  fish  taking  the  small  flies  at  mid-day, 
when  the  Drake  has  been  on  for  awhile.  We  have  often 
watched  a  heavy  trout  eagerly  skim  the  surface  of  the 
water  in  chase  of  a  small  gnat,  which  fish  has  ultimately 
proved,  on  being  brought  to  land  by  this  minute  insect, 
to  be  fairly  gorged  with  the  May  fly.  The  only  explana- 
tion we  can  suggest  is,  that  Master  Speckle  was  anxious 
for  a  change  of  diet. 


NOTES   OlS  THE  MONTHS   FOR  FLY-FISHING.         199 

The  Green  Drake  appears  upon  the  lower  portions  of 
the  streams  first,  often  being  four  days  or  a  week  later  in 
rising  near  the  source,  where  the  water,  being  colder  from 
the  springs,  retards  its  maturity.  The  season  of  these 
flies  varies  in  different  localities.  There  are  three  lakes 
at  varying  altitudes  at  Mullingar,  in  Ireland.  The  May 
fly  first  makes  its  appearance  npon  the  lower  lake  and  is 
plentiful,  and  the  fishing  here  is  good  so  long  as  these 
flies  remain  on  the  water.  They  usually  last  ten  or  twelve 
days,  and  when  all  is  over  on  the  bottom  lake  they  com- 
mence upon  the  next  in  elevation,  where  they  also  last 
about  the  same  period.  Then  the  angler  must  travel  a 
little  higher,  to  number  three  lake,  and  here  the  May  fly 
will  just  be  found  coming  out,  and  the  fishing  is  quite  as 
good  as  on  the  lower  waters.  The  fish  run  large  in  these 
lakes,  not  infrequently  a  four  or  six-pound  trout  is  taken 
in  the  day,  and  sometimes  much  larger  fish  are  killed. 
Throughout  Ireland  the  May  fly  comes  out  in  abundance 
on  many  lakes.  In  Scotland,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is 
very  little  Drake  fishing.  Upon  a  few  odd  lochs,  the 
Awe,  Lomond,  and  others,  a  few  of  these  flies  m-ake  their 
appearance,  but  sport  is  not  good.  Upon  the  other  hand 
the  May  flies  are  extremely  abundant  upon  almost  every 
stream  that  produces  trout,  no  matter  in  what  latitude  or 
clime;  and  with  regard  to  the  exception  referred  to,  the 
Stone  fly  forms  an  admirable  substitute,  being  equally 
abundant  at  the  precise  time  the  Drakes  should  appear. 
The  fishy  feast  of  St.  May  fly  is  annually  looked  forward 
to  by  the  major  portion  of  fishermen  as  the  "good  time 
coming."  Many  an  old  timid  fish*  that  at  other  times 
only  ventures  abroad  by  night,  or  at  twilight,  now  boldly 
makes  its  appearance  at  mid-day;  and  a  long,  thin,  un- 
derfed fish,  with  disproportionate  head,  will  in  a  few  days 
become  vigorously  healthful  and  plump,  and  of  nearly 
double  the  strength  it  possessed  previous  to  feeding  on 
the  Green  Drake. 


200  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  wetting  our  line  upon  all 
trouc  streams  of  note  in  the  three  kingdoms,  but  nowhere 
have  we  had  such  sport  with  this  fly  as  on  the  Dove. 
Centuries  ago  this  river  was  considered  the  best  stream 
for  trout  fishing  in  England,  and  it  still  bears  the  palm 
for  Drake  fishing.  In  this  renowned  dale,  which  not 
only  takes  its  name,  but  whose  sylvan  scenery  derives  an 
indescribable  charm  from  the  river,  the  flies  are  far  more 
numerous  than  on  any  other  stream.  This  may  be  due 
to  various  causes,  the  sheltering  of  rocks  and  foliage,  or 
the  geological  formation  of  the  bed  of  the  river.  This, 
however,  we  pass  over;  suffice  it  that  the  Green  Drake, 
when  scarce  and  almost  a  failure  elsewhere,  is  to  be  found 
in  clouds  in  Dovedale.  Here  fishermen  of  all  grades 
throng  the  banks  of  bonny  Dove  with  almost  every  con- 
ceivable equipment;  long  men  with  short  rods,  small  men 
with  large  ones,  from  the  youthful  novice  to  the  venerable 
old  fly  fisher  of  seventy  years. 

And  now,  with  our  reader's  kind  permission,  we  will 
conduct  him  to  a  favorite  length  some  distance  up- 
stream, keeping  a  look  out  meanwhile  in  our  progress  as 
to  what  is  doing.  The  first  object  that  strikes  our 
notice  as  we  walk  leisurely  along,  is  an  old  man,  Avho 
sits  rod  in  hand  under  the  friendly  shade  of  some  rather 
overgrown  bushes,  quietly  and  contentedly  blowing  his 
weed,  his  eye  intently  fixed  on  some  object  on  the  water 
near. 

"  Why,  he's  certainly  float  fishing,"  you  observe. 

"Not  so,"  we  reply;  '^it  is  the  hale  old  miller  from 
above,  who  has  been  tempted  by  the  morning's  bright 
promise  of  this  being  a  good  day  with  the  Drake,  with 
one  of  which  he  is  dibbing  or  daping  upon  the  water's 
surface,  near  the  roots  of  the  hawthorns." 

"  But  surely  he  cannot  hope  to  do  much  in  that  way?" 
you  ask. 

**  The  very  largest  fish  are  taken  in  this  manner.     You 


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NOTES   ON   TIIE   MONTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         203 

observe  he  is  perfectly  still  and  easy;  he  has  evidently 
seen  the  rise  of  a  feeding  fish  below  there,  and  he  is  con- 
tent to  patiently  watch.  Ah!  there,  he  has  missed  that 
fish;  the  fly  is  gone  and  so  is  the  fish;  he  has  taken  his 
'hook'  and  left  the  miller's." 

''Any  fault  of  the  rodster's  ?" 

"  Oh  no,  none  whatever.  The  fish  has  simply  taken 
hold  of  the  living  fly  by  the  tail,  and  so  stripped  it  from 
the  hook,  which  was  placed  between  the  wings;  he  is 
rather  fastidious  in  feeding.  The  flies  are  merely  out  as 
stragglers  yet;  if  two  naturals  be  put  upon  the  hook,  he 
will,  ten  chances  to  one,  get  him  the  next  time.  The 
strongest  tackle  is  used  in  this  primitive  style  of  angling; 
the  shadow  of  the  thick  foliage,  and  the  actions  of  the 
impaled  insect,  aiding  materially  in  effecting  the  decep- 
tion." Every  minute  now  the  sun  shines  brighter,  and 
more  flies  appear.  We  now  move  onwards,  passing 
several  more  fishermen  of  the  daping  school.  And  now, 
directly  preceding  us,  a  fisherman  is  observed  with  a  con- 
spicuously long  stiff  rod,  attached  to  which  is  a  very 
inconsistently  fine  line,  which  is  out  a  great  length.  The 
rodster  is  as  motionless  as  though  the  least  action  would 
upset  his  equilibrium,  and  seriously  imperil  the  safety 
of  his  person  and  property,  the  twenty-foot  rod  in  ques- 
tion. 

"Gracious  goodness!  Whatever  kind  of  fishing  do 
you  call  this,  pray?" 

''This  is  in  general  use  upon  the  lochs  frequented  by 
the  May-fly,  and  is  sometimes  very  successful  here.  The 
line  consists  of  the  finest  possible  substance,  of  the  very 
strongest  textile  procurable,  viz. ,  that  of  pure  raw  China 
silk,  which,  though  not  perceptibly  thicker  than  the  gut 
lash,  is  infinitely  ctronger.  At  the  extremity  of  this  is  a 
live  fly,  which,  if  you  watch  very  closely,  you  will  see  is 
made  by  the  almost  invisible  action  of  the  tip,  to  gently 
frisk  and  flutter  m  the  most  natural  manner  possible. 


204  THE  SCIENTIFIC   AI^GLER. 

upon  the  top  of  the  water,  exactly  like  a  lusty  insect  in 
the  full  enjoyment  of  perfect  liberty.  This  is  a  much 
more  scientific  way  of  dibbing  than  the  one  recently 
noticed.  The  gut  is  generally  used  three  yards  long,  and 
is  as  fine  as  it  is  possible  to  draw  it.  The  hook  is  small 
and  is  cropped  short  shank;  this  is  usually  inserted  be- 
tween the  wings,  as  in  the  other  style  of  daping.  Occa- 
sionally two  hooks  are  placed  back  to  back,  in  which 
case  two  flies  are  used,  this  more  particulary  on  cold 
windy  days." 

"How  about  the  wind?  I  should  imagine  the  whole 
thing  impracticable  without  wind." 

"A  slight  breeze  is  certainly  essential  to  the  successful 
working  of  the  method;  but,  when  too  strong,  a  small- 
sized  split  shot,  attached  near  the  foot  line,  acts  admir- 
ably as  ballast." 

"■  See  yonder!  we  have  still  another,  type  of  a  Drake 
fisherman.  His  method  is  more  difficult  to  practice,  but 
it  it  is  more  scientific,  and  is  generally  more  successful. 
Mark  how  carefully  he  measures  the  distance  requisite  to 
reach  the  rising  fish,  that  now  forms  the  focus  upon 
which  his  entire  attention  is  fixed.  He  is  evidently  a 
more  than  ordinarily  skillful  fly-rodster.  Observe  how 
carefully  he  keeps  away  from  the  river's  edge,  casting 
dexterously  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the  rising  fish." 

"Is  he  not  rather  circumspect  in  his  use  of  the  rod?" 

"He  is  casting  the  live  fly,  and  that  careful  swing 
round  from  the  left  to  the  right  is  absolutely  requisite  to 
retain  the  fly  upon  the  hook.  Were  not  due  care  and 
caution  paid  to  this  the  fly  would  continually  be  flipped 
off,  and  nothing  but  bare  hooks  presented  to  the  fish.  It 
must  not  be  forgotten  that 

'  Though  gudgeons  strike 
At  the  bare  hook  and  bait  alike, 
The  wily  trout  regardless  lie, 
Till  art  like  nature  sends  the  fly.' 


NOTES   ON  THE  MONTHS   FOR  FLY-FISHING.         205 

The  rodster  before  us  is  an  adept  at  this  particular 
branch  of  the  art  of  fly-fishing.  His  rod  is  very  pliable, 
as  is  necessary;  and  provided  his  gut  and  tackle  are  of 
the  finest  description,  he  will  do  some  execution  before 
night-fall." 

Whilst  we  have  been  taking  observations  the  fish  have 
turned  out  from  their  hidden  haunts  and  sheltered 
nooks,  attracted  by  the  ever-increasing  show  of  May-flies, 
which  flutter  upon  the  surface  of  the  water.  Without 
waiting  to  see  the  luck  of  our  ideal  rodster,  we  hasten 
onwards  until  our  favorite  swim  is  reached.  Here  the 
tackle  is  speedily  arranged,  fine  double  hooks  mounted 
back  to  back  upon  the  finest  stained  gut,  being  attached 
to  the  extremity  of  our  treble  X  fine  lashes.  A  live  Drake 
is  now  placed  upon  the  larger  or  uppermost  of  the  two 
hooks,  the  hook  being  inserted  in  one  side  of  the  haunch 
forming  the  shoulder,  which  will  admit  of  its  maintain- 
ing a  natural  position  when  thrown  into  the  water.  And 
now  we  commence. 

But  stay!  your  rod  being  not  made  specially  for  the 
purpose,  will  be  found  too  stiff  and  difficult  to  use  success- 
fully. We  must  first  remedy  this  little,  though  serious 
matter.  This  small  piece  of  fine  lead  wire  will  work  the 
oracle  if  rolled  round  the  tip  of  the  top.  '*  There,  how 
does  that  feel  ?  Eather  limpy  ?  Take  an  inch  or  so  of 
wire  off  then.  Now  it  is  all  right,  everything  that  could 
be  wished,  in  fact.  Now  let's  at  it!  Bring  round  the 
rod  over  the  left  shoulder,  taking  especial  care  not  to 
whisk,  or  whip  off  the  fly.  Now  that  was  done  very 
nicely  indeed,  and  if  it  only  had  reached  that  fish  over 
there,  it  would  doubtless  have  been  appreciated,  as  it  in 
all  justice  deserved.  Again,  'up  he  comes.'  Strike! 
Right!  You  have  him  this  time;  '  handle  him  gently, 
treat  him  with  care' — slightly  parodying  Tom  Hood. 
Take  him  a  little  below  there  to  the  shallow,  and  land 
him,  or  he  will  damage  our  sport  hereabouts.     That  was 


20G  THE   SCIEi^TIFIC   ANGLER. 

very  prettily  done;  sharp  for  another  fly;  here,  you  have 
it  upon  your  coat;  the  very  air  is  getting  thick  with  flies. 
Ah  !  the  sun  is  now  obscured  by  passing  vapors ;  stay 
your  hand ;  now  for  the  artificial.  Art  before  nature, 
when  there  is  a  lively  chance  of  its  being  successful. 
Here  we  have  our  floating  favorite,  the  Canadian  wood- 
duck-winged  Drake,  with  hollow  wheaten  straw  body, 
let's  have  him  on.  Now  for  business.  Away  surges  the 
line,  the  further  extremity  of  which  no  sooner  touches 
the  water  than  it  is  seized,  and  you  have  an  antagonist 
who,  in  the  tug  which  immediately  ensues,  proves  worthy 
of  your  steel.  The  first  terrific  wrench  he  gives  the  rod 
and  tackle  as  he  dashes  majestically  away,  shows  him  to 
be  the  tyrant  of  the  length  hereabouts.  Did  you  not 
courteously  yield  to  his  wild  and  indignant  rush  with 
faint  reserve,  the  fight  would  be  brought  to  an  abrupt 
conclusion,  for  had  your  tackle  thrice  the  strength  it  has 
in  reality,  grim  force  would  be  utterly  futile.  Play  upon 
him  by  placing  a  heavy  strain  upon  the  rod,  allow  him  to 
steal  his  lengths  heavily,  and  more  heavily,  in  his  frantic 
efforts  to  escape,  ever  keeping  a  look-out  for  mischief, 
such  as  sunken  timber,  roots,  and  sticks,  to  avoid  which 
the  heaviest  strain  the  line  is  capable  of  standing  must 
be  put  upon  him,  or  he  will  prove  victor,  and  will  vanish 
with  his  spoils,  consisting  of  several  yards  of  choice  gut, 
and  perhaps  your  last  artificial,  which,  though  they  may 
desperately  encumber  him,  are  not  to  be  recovered. 
Exercise,  therefore,  your  judgment  and  ingenuity,  and 
his  natural  cunning  will  be  put  to  rout.  Time  is  no 
especial  object  in  a  fight  of  this  description  ;  every  wan- 
ing minute  is  a  minute  gained ;  the  heavier  the  fish  the 
longer  the  time  to  be  expended  over  him.  According  to 
the  poundage  of  a  trout,  as  a  rule,  the  sport  he  gives  ex- 
tends over  an  equal  number  of  minutes,  though,  in  a 
case  like  this,  "each  seems  an  hour."  These  disjointed 
sentences  escape  us  as  the  scene  is  prolonged.  Now,  how- 


NOTES  ON  THE  MONTHS  EOR  ELY-FISHING.         207 

ever,  our  captive's  spirit  is  broken,  his  golden  broadside 
lies  athwart  the  silvery  stream ;  and  as  he  is  ''limp  as  a 
loo-,"  you  slowly  tug  him  ashore.  ''Don't  present  arms 
with  that  net,  but  keep  it  out  of  sight  until  his  tail  end 
can  be  got  at  first.  Capital  I  There  I  Safe  at  last,  a 
three-and-a-half  pounder  if  an  ounce ;  small  danger  of 
your  eclipsing  this  if  you  fish  for  a  week.  But  now  is 
the  prime  time  of  the  whole  season,  the  fish  are  all 
out  and  feeding,  therefore  it  is  the  time  for  the  angler  to 
weed  out  heavy  fish,  whose  cannibal  propensities  are 
exemplified  the  more  weekly,  monthly,  and  yearly,  until 
the  water  near  their  haunt  is  entirely  depopulated.  Let 
us  see  how's  the  enemy? — 2.15  P.  m.  You  will  extract 
a  heavy  pannier  before  dinner,  if  you  labor  against  time; 
though  the  fun  may  furiously  thicken,  don't  retain  more 
than  your  fill." 

Personally  speaking  we  make  a  practice  of  drawing  the 
line  at  the  lid  of  the  oreel,  all  conquests  afterwards  being 
relinquished  as  soon  as  effected.  This  rule,  humane 
reader,  we  would  commend  to  your  acceptance,  in  all 
exceptionally  favorable  circumstances,  whenever  practi- 
cable. 

Should  the  weather  prove  fine,  and  favored  with  warm 
sun,  the  flies  will  appear  a  few  days  earlier  in  each  locali- 
ty, but  will  terminate  a  week  or  so  before  their  wonted 
time.  The  genial  weather  and  warm  temperature  of  the 
water  admit  of  their  attaining  maturity  almost  simul- 
taneously ;  and  in  these  circumstances,  it  naturally  fol- 
lows that  their  stay  will  be  more  limited.  Chub  are  bold 
risers  at  the  May  fly,  and  after  the  close  time,  that  is 
about  the  last  week  of  the  Drake,  much  diversion  may 
be  derived  from  Mr.  Leatherhead.  Grayling  and  all 
coarse  fish  come  in  season  on  the  16th  of  June.  The 
small  flies,  when  numerous,  tempt  them  from  the  slow- 
running  deeps  to  the  rapids  or  shallows,  where  they  con- 
gregate in  shoals,  being  a  gregarious  fish.     The  Little 


208  THE   SCIEi^TIFlC   AI^GLEE. 

Chap  and  Black  Gnat — both  very  small  flies — are  usually 
picked  off  by  them  in  preference  to  the  Duns^  Spinners^ 
Oak  fly,  or  what  not,  that  may  be  plentiful.  We  have 
frequently  counted  eight  or  ten  fine  fellows  rising  within 
the  compass  of  a  few  yards,  while  at  the  same  time  there 
has  not  been  another  fish  rising  up  or  down  stream. 
Under  these  circumstances,  it  will  be  obvious  to  all  that 
great  care  is  necessary  in  *  Splaying"  the  fish,  for  should 
the  rodster  land  his  fish  in  a  reckless  or  clumsy  manner, 
his  chances  of  hooking  a  second  will  be  exceedingly  small. 
The  best  way  to  land  a  grayling,  under  the  above  cir- 
cumstances, is  to  keep  a  gentle  pull  on  the  rod,  and  let 
the  fish  bolt  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  water  for  some 
distance  below  where  he  rose,  where  he  may  be  safely 
bagged.  Grayling  may  be  taken  in  the  latter  part  of 
June  with  the  Honey-Dun  and  Mulberry  Bumble,  Little 
Chap,  and  small  Midges.  The  rod,  like  the  line  and  gut, 
should  be  fine ;  an  ordinary  one-handed  fly  rod,  m  good 
play,  is  decidedly  the  best,  as  with  it  you  will  often  feel 
the  fish  in  time  to  hook  him ;  whereas,  with  a  less  pliable 
tool  you  will  feel  nothing,  save  perchance  a  stake  or  a 
root.  An  hour  or  so  at  daybreak  will,  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  seldom  fail  to  yield  capital  remuneration  in  the 
way  of  sport,  as,  during  the  warmer  weather,  numbers  of 
insects  fall  upon  the  water  in  the  dark  hours,  and  are 
taken  by  the  fish  as  soon  as  they  are  discernible  each 
morning. 

For  a  week  or  ten  days  after  the  Green  Drake  has  dis- 
appeared the  trout  lie  dormant  in  the  deeps;  until  again 
liunger-bitten  they  disdain  small  food,  but  after  the  lapse 
of  this  time,  they  leave  the  stills  and  return  to  the  shal- 
lows and  rapids. 

The  Oak  fly  is  really  invaluable  to  the  fly-fisher  in 
June,  after  the  Drake  season.  This  fly  has  the  form 
somewhat  of  a  Blue-bottle,  and  the  color  of  the  Sand  fly, 
the  body  being  more  slender  than  that  of  the  former, 


l^^OTES   OX   THE   MOKTHS   rOR   FLY-riSHIKG.         209 

and  ribbed  with  black.  This  is  a  good  %  to  dib  with  in 
a  style  similar  to  the  May  fly.  Towards  evening,  after 
sundown,  the  Eed  and  Golden  Spinners  are  generally  on 
the  water  in  great  force,  at  intervals  here  and  there, 
mostly  near  weirs,  bridges,  or  overhanging  trees  and 
bushes,  where  they  may  be  seen  whirling  in  clouds.  The 
trout  are  in  better  condition  at  the  latter  part  of  this 
month  than  at  any  other  part  of  the  year,  a  small  half- 
pound  fish  proving  as  strong  and  vigorous  as  a  fish  dou- 
ble the  weight  a  month  or  two  earlier  or  later.  The 
extraordinary  fattening  qualities  of  the  heavy  ephemera 
are  mainly  instrumental  in  effecting  the  change. 

JULY. 

The  fish  are  now  to  be  found  in  the  small  eddies  and 
small  streams  behind  large  stones,  sunken  rocks,  or  any 
other  impediment,  in  and  by  the  sides  of  rapid  streams. 
The  GoldcD,  July,  and  Pale  Evening  Duns,  and  the  Pale 
Evening  White  (shades  of  the  Ephemera  Olive)  will  pre- 
dominate. The  Spinners,  especially  the  Golden,  are 
very  numerous,  as  are  also  the  Midges  and  the  Grass 
Moths. 

This  month  is  perhaps  the  most  difficult  to  fish  suc- 
cessfully during  the  whole  season.  We  often  meet  with 
young  inexperienced  anglers  during  a  long  sultry  July 
day,  who  flog  industriously  from  '^  early  morn  till  dewy 
eve,"  meeting  with  but  faint  encouragement.  Fine 
weather  would  seem  to  act  as  a  magnet  to  draw  the  unin- 
itiated to  the  water  side.  For  the  special  guidance  of 
such,  we  append  a  few  brief  instructions  as  to  the  plan 
of  procedure.  To  commence  at  daybreak,  a  cast  of  flies 
similar  to  the  dead  ones  seen  upon  the  water  beneath  the 
overhanging  boughs  of  bushes,  trees,  etc.,  should  be  used 
over  the  moving  fish  before  breakfast;  when  it  is  no  un- 
common thing  to  find  the  fish  rise  until  the  dead  flies 
are  picked  off.     During  mid-day  it  is  of  small  use  whip- 


210  THE   SCIEi^TIFIC   ANGLER. 

ping  the  waters,  unless  the  day  be  windy,  wet  or  cloudy; 
in  these  circumstances  a  cast  of  "artificials,"  corres- 
ponding with  the  *^ naturals"  then  upon  the  water,  will 
be  found  to  take.  In  the  event  of  the  weather  being 
hot  and  oppressive,  use  the  Eed  Palmer  Caterpillar,  of 
which  more  anon.  At  sunset  small  flies  may  again  be 
resorted  to.  The  evening  rise  after  a  seasonable  day  at 
this  period  is  a  sight  worth  seeing  upon  any  well  stocked 
water.  During  and  after  twilight  the  Caterpillar,  Dun 
Cut,  Moths,  Coachman,  and  any  of  the  large  trout  flies 
contained  in  the  fly-book,  will  be  found  most  deadly.  In 
concluding,  we  may  state  that,  provided  with  suitable 
tackle,  the  fault  lies  with  the  rodster  if  no  sport  is  ob- 
tained. 

In  the  middle  of  the  day,  during  the  whole  of  this 
month,  small  blacks  are  frequently  numerous;  both  trout 
and  grayling  feed  upon  them  when  on  in  sufficient 
strength.  These  tribes  of  blacks  are  almost  invisible  iu 
most  lights,  and  especially  so  when  on  the  water.  When- 
ever the  fish  are  rising  at  these  minute  specks  of  life,  it 
is  almost  vain  to  present  anything  else  to  their  notice. 
The  tantalizing  effect  of  this  insect  upon  the  temper  of 
the  fisherman  has  caused  it  to  be  stigmatized  as  the  "an- 
gler's plague;"  the  pests  themselves  being  little  larger 
than  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  closely  resembling  the 
appearance  of  a  minute  ball  of  soot,  the  wings  so  filmy 
as  to  be  almost  indistinguishable  to  the  naked  eye.  This 
is  the  black  gnat  of  the  naturalist;  the  gnat  of  the  fish- 
erman is  a  much  larger  insect.  The  term  gnat  is  usually 
associated  with  the  troublesome  insect  whose  habitual 
tendency  would  appear  to  be  to  plague  and  annoy  the 
human  race.  The  fly-dresser's  gnat  is  usually  of  quite  a 
different  species,  being  of  wondrously  increased  dimen- 
sions, more  often  resembling  the  common  house-fly  rather 
than  the  gnat.  The  fisherman's  Black  Gnat  proper,  is  a 
fly  a  little  less  than  the  Iron  Blue,  and  should  never  be 


NOTES   O^q^  THE  MOI^THS   FOR  FLY-FISHING.         211 

dressed  larger.  The  artificial  "plague"  is  ingeniously 
contrived  by  a  fine  point  strand  of  black  ostrich  herl; 
but  the  hooks  used  being  too  small  to  be  effective  for  any- 
thing except  grayling  or  small  trout,  we  can  scarcely 
commend  their  use.  It  may  be  an  artistic  feat  to  land  a 
fish  through  the  instrumentality  of  an  artificial  of  this 
description,  when  attached  to  gut  collars  as  fine  as  human 
hair,  but  the  predominating  chance  of  breakages,  and  the 
uncertainties  over  which  the  fly-fisher  exercises  little  or 
no  control,  of  unsafely  hooking,  etc.,  cause  us  to  ignore 
these,  adopting  in  preference  a  safe-sized  hook  and  fly, 
viz,,  the  Little  Chap.  This  is  somewhat  less  than  the 
angler's  Black  Gnat,  and  is  dressed  buzzy,  and  with  this  the 
fish's  chances  of  hooking  and  holding  are  largely  increased. 
There  are  some  fly-fishers  who  care  less  about  landing 
fish  than  hooking  and  turning  them;  to  such  as  these,  as 
a  matter  of  course,  a  more  correct  copy  is  preferred. 

About  the  middle  of  this  month  the  Wren  Tail  ap- 
pears, and  on  hot  days  often  in  large  numbers.  Being  a 
land  insect  it  is  of  much  consequence  to  the  angler  in 
calm  weather.  There  are  always,  through  the  season,  a 
variety  of  "oddlings"  about,  which,  as  a  rule,  affect 
neither  fish  nor  fisherman,  especially  when  seasonable 
flies  prevail.  Favorable  weather  for  the  fly  at  this  part 
of  the  year  implies  brisk  breezes,  dull  cloudy  skies,  or 
sharp  showers.  The  evening  rise  after  a  hot,  dry,  sultry 
day,  is  nevertheless  a  famous  time  for  sport,  the  fish 
usually  rising  vigorously  until  after  twilight.  The  flies 
that  have  risen  and  hidden  in  the  foliage  fringing  the 
river's  bank  during  the  day,  turn  out  as  soon  as  the 
power  of  the  sun  begins  to  wane.  From  the  natural 
position  of  the  fish  in  clear  water,  they  have  every  ad- 
vantage of  position,  and  faculty  for  distinguishing  differ- 
ences the  most  trivial  between  one  fly  and  another;  and 
often  is  the  angler  nonplussed  in  his  endeavors  to  arrive 
at  the  precise  thing  absorbing  their  attention. 


212  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

A  valuable  aid  at  these  times,  we  have  always  found 
in  the  use  of  a  small  glass-bottomed  drinking-horn,  as 
in  the  froth  and  foam  that  is  found  in  quiet  corners,  at 
points  where  the  water  eddies  round,  drowned  specimens 
of  what  are  monopolizing  the  attention  of  the  fish  are 
sure  to  be  discovered.  Whenever  the  trout  are  not  to  be 
drawn  to  the  surface,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  surface 
food,  there  is  for  the  fiy-fisher  a  rarely  failing  method  of 
procuring  sport  by  means  of  the  Red  Palmer  Caterpillar. 
The  way  we  use  it  is  to  cast  it  precisely  the  same  as  the 
fly,  at  the  extremity  of  a  nine-feet  gut  lash,  in  which 
fineness  and  strength  are  combined.  This  done,  and  all 
being  in  readiness,  the  mounted  cast  is  delivered  with 
more  than  ordinary  care,  a  couple  of  yards  or  so  above 
any  fish  that  maybe  on  the  look  out  for  what  the  stream 
brings  forth.  In  comparatively  still  and  clear  water,  this 
style  of  angling  exceeds  most  from  a  genuine  sportsman's 
point  of  view,  as  each  movement  of  the  fish  is  plainly 
visible  to  the  rodster.  The  lure  should  be  slightly 
worked  by  a  wrist  movement,  just  suflScient  to  open  and 
shut  the  feather  fibres.*  When  the  artificial  has  passed 
the  fish  the  operation  must  be  repeated;  and  fish,  especi- 
ally large  ones,  are  more  often  than  not  killed  after  a 
certain  amount  of  attention  to  this  matter.  ^Ye  have 
often  creeled  a  trout,  grayling,  salmon,  or  chub,  after 
casting  twelve,  fifteen,  and  even  twenty  times,  the  bait 
being  subjected  to  an  all  round  inspection  each  time  of 
its  appearance.  It  is  thought  by  some,  that  by  this 
repetition  of  casts  and  workings  the  fish  finally  becomes 
eager,  under  the  impression  that  from  the  constant  suc- 
cession of  baits  they  are  becoming  numerous.  Be  this  as 
it  may,  that  the  fish  do  take  this  bait  not  only  in  these, 
but  in  a  variety  of  other  circumstances,  is  now  an 
established  fact,  placed  beyond  all  dispute.     We  have 

*  The  author  refers  to  up-stream  fishing. 


K0TE3   0:N"  the   M0N"THS   roil   FLY-FISHIl^G.         213 

personally  used  this  lure  for  more  than  forty  years,  and 
can  fully  testify  to  its  killing  powers  when  properly  pre- 
sented. By  its  use  the  fly-fisher  is  enabled  to  pursue  his 
sport  at  any  time  of  the  day  (or  night)  when  the  fish  are 
not  rising,  and  all  ordinary  means  fail.  This  bait  was 
originated  by  a  famous  Dove  angler  some  half-century  or 
BO  ago.  This  worthy,  however,  assiduously  kept  the 
thing  private,  and  it  was  finally  divulged  in  a  purely 
accidental  manner.  Mr.  Professor  having,  during  a  fly- 
fishing match,  through  a  laxity  of  vigilance,  left  a  type 
of  the  unknown  mystic  lure  upon  a  twig  on  the  opposite 
bank,  his  rival,  upon  whom  the  action  had  not  been 
lost,  being  in  the  vicinity,  took  the  opportunity  of  solv- 
ing a  problem  that  had  perplexed  him  and  other  fisher- 
men for  several  seasons,  as  to  the  nature  of  an  artificial 
capable  of  killing  almost  unfailingly,  and  that,  too,  when 
all  ordinary  artificials  were  all  but  useless.  The  dis- 
coverer referred  to,  was  the  writer,  from  whom  the 
author  of  the  "  Fly-fisher's  Entomology,"  and  the  gen- 
eral public,  obtained  the  secret  of  the  mid-water  fly.  As 
Mr.  Eonalds  points  out,  the  artificial  in  question  is  a 
copy  of  the  Arctia  Caga,  or  Tiger  Moth  (commonly 
known  as  the  Woolly  Bear).  In  Scotch  and  Irish  waters 
it  is  equally  killing  when  dressed  somewhat  larger,  as  it 
is  in  the  well- whipped  streams  of  England.  To  both  the 
salmon  and  trout  fisher  it  forms  a  sort  of  auxiliary  in 
reserve,  convenient  in  otherwise  trying  circumstances. 

AUGUST. 

During  this  month  the  most  favorable  days  for  fly- 
fishing are  when  the  weather  fs  cloudy,  and  the  water's 
surface  is  slightly  ruffled  by  a  breeze  of  wind.  As  the 
weather  usually  prevailing  is  similar  to  that  of  the  month 
preceding,  the  instructions  there  given  apply  equally  to 
the  present  month.  Upon  clear  sunny  days  the  fish  will 
be  found  under  the  shade  of  the  bushes,  on  the  sides  of 


214  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

the  banks.  The  Caterpillar,  both  as  a  mid-day  and 
night  fly,  may  be  used  with  success,  seasonable  weather 
l^re vailing.  The  best  eyening  flies  are  the  Greentail  or 
Grannum,  Golden  Dun,  the  Spinners,  and  the  Interme- 
diate. The  last  is  a  representation  of  the  fluttering  atti- 
tude of  a  dun  during  the  transformation  scene,  when  it 
slips  from  its  old  covering,  or  skin,  and  re-appears  more 
delicately  graceful  and  fragile  than  before.  The  fish  are 
especially  partial  to  the  up-winged  naturals  when  in  this 
temporary  transitory  stage,  for  which  there  may  be  many 
reasons,  the  most  important  being  that  the  metamor- 
phosis always,  or  nearly  so,  takes  place  upon  the  top  of 
the  water,  and  therefore  within  reach  of  the  feeding  fish, 
which,  it  is  well  known,  show  a  marked  partiality  for 
deformed  or  distressed  prey,  inasmuch  as  they  will  seize 
the  sickly  little  fish,  or  a  copy  of  one,  from  amongst  a 
shoal  of  perfect  fish,  almost  any  one  of  which  was  in 
their  power. 

The  Red  and  Black  Ants,  Gray  Gnat,  and  Wren-Tail, 
are  to  be  seen  upon  the  water  on  bright  days,  the  small 
flies  being  then  abundant.  These  are  essentially  mid- 
day flies,  the  larger  species  being  numerous  towards  even- 
ing. When  the  fish  are  feeding  upon  small  ^^  naturals," 
the  contents  of  the  stomach  of  the  fish  taken  should  be 
examined,  so  as  to  ascertain  correctly  the  taking  fly. 
Sometimes  this  is  discerned  by  an  inspection  of  the 
tongue  only,  especially  w^hen  the  fish  are  feeding  well. 

About  the  10th  of  this  month,  the  August  shade  of 
the  Large  Browns  (August  Dun)  comes  upon  the  water; 
north  of  the  Midlands  it  is  much  later.  This  fly, 
in  common  with  the  duns,  seeks  the  shelter  of  the 
neighboring  foliage  immediately  upon  rising  from  the 
bed  of  the  river,  venturing  forth  about  sunset.  This, 
and  the  light  Turkey  Brown  shade,  are  to  be  used  with 
signal  success  until  the  fisherman  can  no  longer  see  to 
manage  his  line.     The  March  Brown,  dressed  a  size  or  so 


NOTES   ON   THE   MONTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         215 

larger  than  those  usually  used  this  side  of  the  border,  is 
the  best  trouting  fly  throughout  Scotland,  being  a  standard 
killer  upon  all  its  waters,  excepting  the  Tay  and  Tweed, 
for  which  rivers  the  ordinary  southern  flies  are  adapted. 
In  1864,  Lord  Erskine  took  the  heaviest  take  of  trout  of 
the  season  upon  the  Tweed,  with  the  small  black  Gnat. 

A  heavy  shower  often  has  a  very  beneficial  effect  upon 
the  rodster's  sport.  We  have  frequently  seen  young  an- 
glers, at  the  preliminary  drops  of  an  impending  shower, 
rush  for  the  nearest  shelter,  whilst  the  descending  rain 
drops,  beating  down  myriads  of  insects  upon  the  water, 
allured  the  fish  from  their  customary  haunts  to  the  sur- 
face, where  in  these  circumstances  they  are  to  be  readily 
taken  by  the  persevering  angler.  As  soon  as  the  favorable 
and  friendly  rain  has  ceased  to  fall,  Mr.  Novice  assidu- 
ously recommences  to  flog  the  stream,  inwardly  congrat- 
ulating himself,  doubtless,  at  having  been  so  fortunate 
in  evading  an  unpleasant  experience. 

Amongst  the  flies  numerous  in  the  evenings  of  sultry 
days,  the  spinners  figure  conspicuously,  from  the  Great 
Eed  of  the  heavy  browns,  to  the  prim  little  creatures  of 
the  Iron  Blue  order.  The  fish  are  usually  all  life  from 
sunset  until  dark,  and  after  this,  too,  when  the  moon  rises; 
thus,  if  the  angler  is  not  busy  too,  in  all  probability  the 
fault  lies  with  himself.  This  month  is  the  best  in  the 
whole  season  for  minnow-fishing  in  brooks  and  rapid 
running  waters.  For  information  upon  this  subject 
we  refer  our  readers  to  Trout  Spinning.  The  largest 
trout  are  generally  found  feeding  at  some  distance  from 
very  deep  water,  encumbered  by  tree  roots  or  large 
stones;  sometimes  the  bank  is  hollowed  under  an  old 
tree  root  for  yards,  by  the  constant  washing  of  the  water. 
When  disturbed,  the  trout  will  make  for  these  retreats  at 
a  rapid  pace,  and  should  the  unfortunate  angler  allow  the' 
fish  once  to  get  to  his  hold  when  hooked,  he  will  to  a  cer- 
tainty lose  his  capture,  and  imperil  his  tackle.     Much  is 


216  THE   SCIEKTIFIC   AN^GLER. 

to  be  learned,  therefore,  when  the  water  is  fine  and  low, 
as  then  observations  may  be  taken  as  to  the  lay  of  the 
river's  bed,  etc. 

SEPTEMBEE. 

Grayling  are  now  rapidly  coming  into  condition.  Sea- 
sonable weather  prevailing,  good  sport  is  afforded  by 
these  fish  wherever  prevalent.  Trout  and  grayling  take 
the  fly  in  an  entirely  different  way;  the  former,  as  a  rule, 
comes  up  boldly  to  meet  the  fly  as  it  floats  down-stream, 
whilst  the  grayling  seldom  rises  at  a  fly  until  it  has 
passed  over  or  close  by  him.  This  is  owing  to  the  singu- 
lar formation  of  the  mouth  of  this  fish,  the  upper  part  of 
which,  projecting  over  the  bottom  lip,  incapacitates  it 
from  closing  upon  the  fly  v/hen  before  it,  as  is  habitual 
with  the  trout.  •  The  grayling  being  gregarious,  it  is  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  each  fish  should  be  landed 
quietly  and  carefully,  with  the  least  possible  disturbance 
of  the  water.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  satisfactorily, 
the  hooked  fish  should  be  headed  down-stream,  whenever 
practicable,  to  the  nearest  available  spot  for  landing. 
The  angler  who  has  been  accustomed  to  whip  for  trout 
upon  the  waters  of  a  small  lake  or  pool  will  know  per- 
fectly well  how  to  accomplish  this.  To  be  a  successful 
grayling  fisher,  it  is  essential  to  have  thorough  command 
of  the  rod,  to  have  a  sensitive  touch,  a  quick  eye,  and  a 
gentle  hand.  The  secret  of  success  in  fact,  as  in  other 
branches  of  the  art,  lies  in  the  acquirement  of  certain 
details,  which  together  constitute  proficiency.  First, 
the  art  of  throwing  should  be  thoroughly  understood  and 
acquired.  This  rule  is  imperative,  as  the  least  awkward 
movement  will  '^  knock  the  fish  off  the  feed."  It  should 
ever  be  remembered  that  the  eye  of  the  grayling  is  even 
quicker  and  keener  than  that  of  the  trout,  though  his 
cupidity  is  greater. 

Next  in  importance  ranks  *' striking."     This  requires 


NOTES   ON   THE   MONTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         217 

a  quick  hand  and  eye;  and  if  either  one  or  the  other  be 
in  any  way  defective,  the  angler  should  not  strike  at  all, 
but  should  let  the  fish  hook  himself.  Striking  forms 
one  of  the  most  fertile  sources  of  loss  and  disaster  that 
exists  in  the  modern  method  of  fly-fishing.  This  is  par- 
ticularly exemplified  in  the  case  of  grayling,  they  being,  as 
an  old  writer  quaintly  expresses  it,  '^excessively  tender 
about  the  chaps,"  and  a  very  slight  motion  of  the  wrist 
is  ample  to  drive  home  the  small  hook.  It  is  here  that 
quickness  of  sight  and  tenderness  of  touch  are  called  into 
play,  in  the  absence  of  which  requisites  the  delicate 
tackle,  or  the  hold  of  the  hook,  and  sometimes  even  a 
portion  of  the  jaw  of  the  hooked  fish,  will  be  broken 
away  by  an  impetuous  rodster.  Great  care  is  therefore 
essential  in  this  matter. 

Whenever  the  grayling  are  not  rising,  unlike  the  trout, 
they  congregate  in  considerable  numbers  at  the  bottom  of 
deep  holes;  but  when  there  is  a  good  number  of  flies 
upon  the  water,  they  quickly  leave  the  deeps,  and  will  be 
found  in  the  slow  running  streams,  more  especially  where 
the  water  averages  a  depth  of  three  to  four  feet.  Here 
they  rise  freely,  so  long  as  the  supply  of  flies  is  unfailing; 
but  upon  these  quitting  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  fish 
gradually  retire  again  to  the  still  deeps.  The  best  flies 
to  use  for  grayling  are  the  Grey-palmer,  Willow  and 
Needle  fly,  the  Little  Pale  Blue,  and  seasonable  shades 
of  the  Olive  Dun  order,  which  are  all  more  or  less 
numerous  at  this  time,  if  seasonable  weather  prevails. 
The  first-named  is  taken  freely  when  the  common  wood 
and  house  flies  are  stricken  with  cold,  and  are  carried 
upon  the  water  by  every  gust  of  wind.  Every  naturalist 
knows  that  these  flies  go  blind  in  this  and  the  following 
month,  but  they  do  not  all  know  that  they  furnish  food 
for  fish.  Father  Izaak  used  to  make  this  fly  from  gray 
badger's  hair:  he  terms  it  the  Hearth  fly;  but  there  is 
every  reason  for  believing  it  to  be  the  common  house  fly. 
10 


318  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

The  experienced  would  naturally  suppose  that  a  copy  of 
the  insect  at  rest,  in  correct  attitude,  would  be  the  thing 
to  fish  with;  but  owing  to  the  incessant  struggles  of  the 
"  natural "  when  on  the  water,  this  would  practically 
prove  a  great  mistake.  Most  land  flies  flutter  conspicu- 
ously when  upon  the  water,  causing  a  ripple  which  is  not 
infrequently  taken  for  the  rise  of  a  fish.  The  Willow 
and  Needle  flies  are  also  great  favorites  with  these  fish, 
and  when  sufficiently  prevalent  are  the  centre  of  attrac- 
tion for  the  time  being.  The  Little  Pale  Blue  (Septem- 
ber shade  of  the  Iron  Blue),  like  all  little  ephemerals,  is 
fully  appreciated  throughout  the  autumn.  These  flies 
appear  upon  bright  days,  and  are  general  flies  upon  every 
trout  and  grayling  stream.  The  temperature  of  the 
weather  and  water  being  now  similar  to  that  of  May,  the 
Duns  common  to  that  month  are  again  prevalent, 
and  are  useful  for  the  capture  of  trout  and  grayling. 
The  whole  of  the  foregoing  flies  are  seasonable  ^*natu- 
rals." 

There  may  be  days,  however,  upon  which  none 
of  these  may  be  out,  when  the  fly-fisher  has  to  fall  back 
upon  what  are  designated  "  fancy  "  flies,  the  chief  and 
foremost  of  which  are  the  palmer-dressings,  known  as  the 
Tassel  fly  or  Bumble.  These  are  constructed  in  many 
shades,  ranging  from  the  blue -white  ordinary  dressing  to 
the  dark  furnace  or  black  red  one.  The  Honey  Dun, 
the  Red,  and  the  Common  Bumble,  are  the  best  for 
autumn  fishing.  Tag-tailed  artificials  are  also  used  to 
tempt  the  fastidious  fish,  being  hackled  flies  with  a  tuft 
of  wool  or  feather  at  the  tail,  after  the  fashion  of  a 
salmon  fly;  but  fly-fishing  for  grayling  cannot  be  said  to 
be  usually  lucrative  when  the  fish  are  not  on  the  rise. 
The  food  of  the  grayling  consists  of  aerial  and  aquatic 
insects  and  their  larvae,  small  worms,  grubs,  etc. 
Amongst  the  contents  of  their  stomachs  are  also  small 
shells  and  pebbles;  these  latter,  we  doubt  not,  aro  taken 


NOTES  OK  THE   MONTHS  FOR  FLY-FISHING.         219 

up,  as  in  the  case  of  gallinaceous  birds,  to  sei^e  some 
digestive  function. 

In  most  rivers  containing  these  fish  they  are  not  lound 
in  the  higher  portions ;  they  seem  to  prefer  the  deeper 
waters,  at  the  bottom  of  which  they  lie  in  the  hot  months, 
to  avoid  the  effects  of  the  high  temperature  of  the  atmos- 
phere. Whenever  the  water  is  a  little  discolored  the  fish 
will  be  on  the  move  for  food ;  a  little  inclement  weather 
often  does  wonders  in  preparing  the  water  and  its  inhab- 
itants for  the  pursuit  of  sport ;  and  the  most  favorable 
time  for  the  tyro  in  fly-fishing  for  grayling  is  to  repair  to 
the  river's  bank  when  the  water  and  weather  are  thus 
favorable.  Grayling  will  frequently  take  a  sunken  fly 
upon  the  stills,  ofttimes  even  when  some  considerable 
distance  below  the  surface ;  but  this  method  need  never 
be  resorted  to  when  they  care  for  surface  feeding.  Upon 
windy  days  the  Cinnamon  fly  is  often  found  useful 
amongst  the  trout,  which  are  as  partial  to  the  larger  na- 
turals as  the  grayling  to  the  smaller  ones.  In  genial 
weather  it  is  of  little  use  employing  it ;  as,  although  there 
may  be  thousands  upon  the  grassy  bank  near  the  river,  a 
smart  breeze  is  needful  to  carry  them  upon  the  water 
within  the  reach  of  the  fish.  Clear,  frosty  nights  tend 
to  improve  autumn  fishing.  They  invigorate  the  gray- 
ling, causing  them  to  fight  gamely  when  hooked,  which 
is  the  case  with  other  fish  seasonable  in  the  colder  season. 

OCTOBER. 

This  month  may  be  said  to  be  the  best  in  the  year  in 
which  to  fish  for  grayling,  which  are  now  in  prime  con- 
dition. These  fish  have  acquired  a  reputation  for  being 
less  wily,  and  therefore  more  easily  deluded  than  trout. 
This  may  have  originated  from  the  fact  of  their  being  at 
times  given,  like  the  salmon,  to  take  some  gaudy  combi- 
nation resembling  no  living  insect  in  creation.  The 
angler  who  contemplates  an  excursion  to  the  haunts  of 


220  THE    SCIEN^TIFIC    AKGLER. 

these  fish,  fully  expecting  to  do  much  execution  by  such 
unnatural  lures,  will,  in  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
chances  in  a  thousand,  be  grievously  disappointed ;  an 
odd  brace,  indeed,  may  be  considered  the  average  yield 
per  diem  of  the  nondescript  artificials. 

Our  earnest  endeavors  have  always  been  to  put  the 
novice  in  the  way  for  thorough  sport ;  and  having  this 
object  in  our  mind's  eye,  we  would  impress  upon  the 
mind  of  such  an  one  that,  although  in  an  exceptional  way 
a  fish  now  and  again  at  rare  intervals  may  be  turned  over 
by  almost  anything  in  the  shape  of  an  artificial,  usually 
they  are  found  to  be  more  expert  in  discerning  the  points 
of  difference  between  a  natural  and  its  copy  than  any 
trout  that  ever  evaded  hook.  Their  visual  organs  we  be- 
lieve to  be  superior  to  those  of  any  other  fish  ;  for,  al- 
though they  habitually  lie  at  the  bottom  of  the  water, 
they  are  not  only  greater  adepts  at  fly-catching,  but  can 
discern  the  most  trivial  deficiency  in  color  of  any  imita- 
tion of  what  may  be  so  monopolizing  their  attention. 
Prodigious  takes  of  these  fish  are  often  secured,  when 
fully  upon  the  rise  at  the  flies  with  which  the  water's 
surface  is  laden  ;  but  these  are  effected  by  an  exercise  of 
considerable  proficiency  and  caution  on  the  part  of  the 
rodster.  The  October  shade  of  the  Iron  Blue  Dun  order, 
the  April  shade  of  the  Olive  Duns,  together  with  the 
Willow  and  Needle  flies  (small),  and  Gray  Palmer,  are 
the  flies  that  will  be  found  in  this  month.  In  unseason- 
able weather  there  is  often  a  multiplicity  of  winged  in- 
sects about,  each  species  having  but  few  representatives; 
in  these  circumstances  the  sunk-fly  system  may  be  prac- 
tised with  success.  This  is  more  particularly  resorted  to 
upon  still  deeps,  when  the  cast  of  flies,  after  being 
thoroughly  saturated,  is  allowed  to  sink  some  five  inches 
beneath  the  water's  surface.  Here  the  rodster  has  to 
discern  by  the  feel  when  a  fish  touches  the  lure.  Gray- 
ling will  often  examine  the  fly  in  a  very  leisurely  sort  of 


NOTES  ON  THE   MONTHS   FOR   FLY-FISHING.         221 

manner  before  essaying  to  finally  absorb  it.  A  gentle 
hitch  should  always  be  given  before  taking  the  line  from 
the  water,  as  by  that  means  fish  are  often  killed  that 
would  otherwise  be  broken  from  and  lost.  It  is  also  ne- 
cessary to  cast  directly  across  stream,  a  few  feet  above  the 
rising  fish,  instead  of  directly  up-stream,  as  iu  the  case 
of  the  trout ;  a8  with  a  slack  line  the  grayling  are  apt  to 
reject  the  fly  without  being  hooked,  when  under  water 
especially.  A  gradual  drawing  motion,  when  not  tempt- 
ing the  fish  upon  the  surface,  may  be  described,  until  the 
gut  collar  reaches  the  rodster's  side  of  the  river.  The 
very  largest  fish  take  the  fly  in  a  remarkably  quiet  manner, 
therefore  it  is  essential  to  give  a  slight  feeling  motion  of 
the  wrist  at  the  least  possible  indication  of  a  rise.  A 
marked  characteristic  of  the  grayling  is,  that  he  will 
often  unconcernedly  permit  the  lure  to  go  by  many  times 
before  closing  upon  it.  This  is  exemplified  in  a  very 
marked  degree  in  grub  fishing,  when,  after  the  bait  has 
passed  say  nineteen  times  out  of  twenty,  the  twentieth 
by  no  means  infrequently  proves  successful. 

The  accredited  theory  is,  that  the  constant  passage  of 
the  lure  acts  as  a  sort  of  ground  bait  in  exciting  the  at- 
tention of  the  fish.  Be  it  so  or  not,  the  fact  remains  that 
grayling  are  thus  to  be  taken  when  not  exactly  upon  the 
feed,  and  more  especially  the  larger  fish.  Frosty  nights 
and  genial  days  bring  the  flies  upon  the  water,  and  the 
delicately  fastidious  grayling  upon  the  rise  in  a  thorough- 
ly healthful  style  ;  and  if  the  angler  fails  then  to  do  con- 
siderable execution,  the  fault  most  assuredly  lies  at  home. 
One  of  the  best  day's  grayling  fishing  we  ever  experienced 
was  on  the  Dove,  a  few  miles  above  Uttoxeter.  The 
water's  surface  was  plentifully  besprinkled  with  the  Oc- 
tober shades  of  the  Iron  Blue,  every  grayling  upon  the 
length  seemed  to  have  left  its  accustomed  haunt  in  the 
bed  of  the  water  to  regale  upon  them,  and  as  these  fish, 
in  the  lower  portions  of  the  river,  predominate  largely 


222  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

over  the  trout,  the  few  rods  that  happened  to  be  out 
were  doing  heavy  work  when  once  furnished  with  pre- 
sentable *^ artificials."  Two  fish  were  now  and  again 
taken  at  the  same  cast.  This  scene  was  prolonged  for 
several  hours;  a  sudden  atmospheric  change,  however, 
finally  caused  the  almost  instantaneous  retreat  of  the  flies 
from  the  water's  surface,  the  repast  of  the  fish  and  our 
sport  being  as  suddenly  brought  to  an  abrupt  conclusion. 
The  produce  of  a  couple  of  neighboring  rods  were  to  be 
enumerated  by  the  dozen;  not  only  their  basket,  but 
their  empty  provision  receptacles  were  filled  with  silvery 
grayling  of  all  sizes  upwards  of  half-a-pound.  For  our 
own  part,  we  had  captured  at  an  early  part  of  the  day 
sufficient  to  fill  the  vacuum  in  our  pannier,  and  for  the 
remainder  and  greater  part  of  the  time  had  returned  all 
subsequent  captures.  Such  days  as  these  are  ever  to  be 
looked  back  upon  as  memorable  reminiscences,  and  at  the 
end  of  a  long  life  of  activity,  cannot  fail  to  form  food  for 
pleasing  reflection. 

NOVEMBER. 

As  the  season  advances,  the  grayling  will  be  found  a 
few  yards  above  and  below  the  deep  holes,  where  they 
will  rise  when  the  flies  are  on  the  water,  even  m  severe 
weather;  indeed  it  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon  thing 
to  find  grayling  taking  well  during  a  severe  frost,  when 
the  line  resembles  an  extended  icicle,  for  like  Jack,  the 
grayling  are  in  the  very  zenith  of  healthful  vigor  in  the 
cold  season  of  the  year.  When  the  world  of  vegetation 
is  lifeless,  and  the  whole  landscape  is  submerged  by  an 
arctic  wave,  no  sport  can  possibly  be  more  exhilarating, 
or  more  conducive  to  health  than  grayling  fishing  in 
these  circumstances.  The  rodster  uses  grasshoppers  or 
hoppers  of  another  shade  before  and  after  mid-day,  filling 
up  the  interval  with  the  fly,  say  from  twelve  A.  m.  to  two 
p.  M.     A  pleasing  variety  is  thus  afforded,  which  seldom 


l^OTES   ON   THE   MOKTHS   FOE   FLY-FISHII^G.         "Z'Z'S 

fails  to  meet  with  due  appreciation  on  the  part  of  the  fish. 
The  flies  to  use,  even  in  mid- winter,  should  be  chosen 
from  those  last  **on"  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fall;  as 
when  Old  Sol  makes  a  feeble  effort  to  rise  in  the  heavens, 
a  few  insects  are  almost  invariably  induced  to  les^ve  their 
retreat  to  meet  death,  either  in  the  jaws  of  the  fish  or  by 
the  nipping  wind  of  night-fall.  A  capital  fancy  fly 
throughout  the  gi'ayling  season  is  an  artificial  we  term 
the  Winter  Dun.  The  body  of  this  is  formed  of  flat  gold 
or  silver,  neatly  laid  on;  legs,  light  blue  hen's  hackle ; 
wings  fieldfare.  This  fly  should  be  fished  point.  We 
can  commend  this  before  all  the  fancy  fly  species  for  the 
allurement  of  grayling  in  either  clear  or  discolored  water. 
In  the  early  winter  season  the  flies  prevalent  in  February 
will  be  out ;  the  sombre- hued  dun  of  that  month,  and  on 
fine  days  the  cock-winged  dun  will  be  seen  about;  and  as 
flies  appear  merely  in  nominal  numbers,  the  grayling  ex- 
hibit great  eagerness  in  taking  what  comes  within  their 
ken.  Should  the  day  prove  cloudy,  with  wind  or  showers 
of  rain,  the  Light  Bumble  will  be  found  deadly,  as  will 
also  the  Gray  Palmer.  Upon  the  occasions  the  Cinnamon 
Fly  is  often  to  be  observed  on  and  about  the  water,  and 
when  this  is  so  a  copy  may  be  placed  as  dropper  with  ad- 
vantage, as,  though  grayling  as  a  rule  prefer  small  flies, 
the  big  fish  will  often  rise  to  larger  lures.  In  clear  water 
the  fish  will  sometimes  be  observed  to  double  back,  after 
cautiously  rising  to  the  surface,  without  closing  on  the 
fly  presented.  This  is  often  owing  to  the  tackle  being 
too  strong  and  coarse.  We  would  impress  upon  the  tyro 
in  the  art  of  *^ flying"  for  grayling,  the  absolute  necessi- 
ty of  the  very  finest  bottom  tackle,  ere  he  can  pursue  his 
sport  with  any  degree  of  satisfaction.  As  in  trout  fishing, 
whenever  the  water  is  slightly  discolored,  and  when  the 
fish  are  on  the  move,  the  chances  of  sport  with  the  gray- 
ling are  enhanced.  In  these  cicumstances  the  novice, 
providing  he  can  put  out  a  moderate  line,  will  achieve 


224:  THE   SCIEl^^TIFIC   Al^aLER. 

wonders;  but  upon  the  other  hand,  when  the  day  is 
calm  and  clear,  with  no  friendly  breeze  to  detract  from 
the  transparency  of  the  stills  of  the  limpid  deeps,  the 
proficient's  best  exertions  and  most  accomplished  skill  are 
called  as  much  into  request  in  November  as  with  trout 
in  July. 

By  way  of  conclusion  we  would  observe  that  whenever 
mist  is  observed  to  rise  from  the  surface  of  the  water, 
either  at  night-fall  in  the  warmer  months,  or  at  any  part 
of  the  day  in  late  autumn,  all  prospects  of  sport  are  to 
be  considered  annulled.*  However  much  a  descending 
or  descended  cloud  may  enhance  sport,  certain  it  is  that 
an  ascending  one  infallibly  indicates  to  the  observant 
mind  that  further  attempts  at  allurement  would  be  futile, 
the  fish  being  off  the  feed  for  the  time  being. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


SALMON  AND  SEA  TROUT  FISHING. 

THE  SALMON  ;  SEA  AND  BULL  TEOUT  ;  SEWIN  ;  SALMON  FISfflNG 
AS  A  sport;  the  rod,  LINE,  AND  REEL;  HOW  TO  USE 
THEM  ;  JIGGERING  AND  SULKY  FISH  ;  SALMON  FLIES  ;  SPIN- 
NING,  ETC. 

Before  entering  into  the  practical  part  of  this  ponderous 
subject,  we  think  a  few  remarks  as  to  the  varieties  of 
salmon,  sea  or  white  trout,  and  other  anadromous  fish, 
may  not  only  be  necessary,  but  may  also  serve  to  supply 
a  deficiency  hitherto  conspicuous  in  angling  works. 

In  the  ichthyological  classification  of  migratory  salmoni- 

*  We  have  noted  this  fact  time  and  again  when  fly  fishing  for  black 
bass  on  the  rivers  of  the  Middle  States. 


SALMOJSi    AND   SEA   TKOUT   FISHING.  226 

dae  much  difference  exists,  the  ordinary  method  followed 
by  naturalists  in  determining  species  proving  inadequate. 
So  innumerable  are  the  variations,  that  the  sub-generic 
group  (Salmones)  are  for  the  most  part  named  after  the 
water  they  inhabit,  as  Galway  sea  trout,  Tay  salmon. 
Shannon  salmon,  etc.,  etc.  The  differences  between  these 
consist  both  in  size,  form,  and  color;  and  are  due  to  the 
following  among  other  causes:— First,  the  varying  prop- 
erties of  the  water  in  different  localities;  second,  the 
complications  implied  by  interbreeding — an  extremely 
fertile  source  of  difficulty,  producing,  as  it  does,  endless 
changes  in  detail  amongst  the  Salmonoids;  and  thirdly, 
the  varieties  dependent  upon  age  and  sexual  develop- 
ment. 

Salmon  proper  attain  much  greater  weight  and  dimen- 
sions than  the  sewin,  sea,  or  white  types,  and  when  in 
condition  are  also  distinguished  by  outward  form  and 
color,  in  both  of  which  we  deem  them  unequalled  by  any 
other  order,  family,  or  species  of  fish.  The  sea  and  bull 
trout — the  former  shorter  and  broader  than  salmon 
proper* — are  distinctively  marked  by  a  quantity  of  black 
spots,  which,  when  the  fish  is  cooked,  become  more  vivid. 
There  is  also  a  marked  absence  of  that  beautiful  fiery 
bronze  natural  to  the  well-conditioned  salmon;  and  last- 
ly, we  may  state  that,  if  not  distinguishable  from  the 
genuine  species  in  its  outward  aspect,  its  inferior  edible 
qualities  should  render  it  easily  discernible.  In  the  north 
the  sea  trout  -is  equally  abundant  with  the  salmon,  and 
large  quantities  find  their  way  to  the  southern  towns, 
where  they  are  retailed  by  the  fish  dealers,  whose  bois- 


*  Sea  and  bull  trout,  so  called  In  the  text,  do  not  vary  sufficiently  in 
structure  to  be  assigned  to  different  species.  The  term  "  bull  trout "  is 
often  indiscriminately  given  by  English  authors  to  the  sea  salmon,  sea 
trout,  and  the  Welsh  trout  or  "  sewin."  A  slisrht  difference  in  coloration 
and  form  gives  rise  to  a  confusion  of  local  names  in  England  as  well  as 
with  us. 


226  THE   SCIEJTTIFIC   ANGLEB. 

terous  cry  of  '* Salmon  without  any  gammon!"  is  heard 
whenever  a  fresh  instalment  arrives.  In  many  cases 
these  people  have  been  unwittingly  '^gammoned"  them- 
selves, their  customers,  nevertheless,  bemg  the  ultimate 
dupes.  From  the  fisherman's  point  of  view,  the  sea  trout 
is  equal  to  the  finest  grilse  that  ever  ascended  the  Tay  or 
Tweed,  exceeding,  as  he  does,  for  gameness  and  pertinac- 
ity every  other  British  fish.  The  bull  trout  ascend  their 
native  rivers  in  April  and  May,  their  first  appearance  at 
any  distance  from  salt  water  being  immediately  after  an 
early  spring  flood.  These  are  for  the  most  part  young 
fish,  ranging  from  three  to  five,  and  occasionally  six 
pounds.  The  oldest  and  best  fish  ascend  in  great  num- 
bers in  November  and  December,  ranging  from  six  to 
twenty  pounds  m  weight.  In  some  localities  the  term 
bull  trout  is  erroneously  applied  to  the  sea  or  white 
trout ;  nor  is  the  error  confined  to  the  illiterate,  some 
authors  of  eminence  having  endorsed  this  inaccuracy. 
Mr.  Frank  Buckland  was  convinced  of  the  fallacy  of  this 
when  he  penned  the  following: — ''It  is  supposed  by 
some  that  the  sea  trout  and  bull  trout  are  identical.  I 
know  the  bull  trout  very  well;  indeed,  I  could  pick  him 
out  amongst  a  thousand  other  salmonidse.  I  am  certain, 
therefore,  that  there  is  a  difference  between  the  ordinary 
sea  trout  and  bull  trout."  *  From  our  own  observations 
we  are  led  to  think  that  the  bull  species  are  hybrids  be- 
tween the  salmon  and  sea  trout  (S.  trutta).  The  ex- 
ternal difference  between  the  salmon  and  bull  trout  is 
much  less  than  between  salmon  and  sea  trout,  both  m 
point  of  color  and  size,  thirteen  to  fifteen  pounds  being 
the  average  weight.     The  seaf  or  salmon  trout,  upon 

*  Professor  Gunther  of  the  British  Museum,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
ichthyologists  in  Europe,  states  that  these  fish  are  of  the  same  species. 

t  The  sea  trout  of  Canada  (to  which  habitat  those  of  America  are 
confined)  will  .average  about  two  pounds.  In  certain  localities,  they, 
however,  maintain  an  average  weight  of  five  or  six  pounds.  This  is 
especially  the  case  in  the  river  Nouvelle  in  Gaspe,  Canada. 


Flatk  6. 


&WAN  BENT  HOOK 


FIC:6    RANGE    OF  KENDAU  SNECK,    HOOKS 


nn 


n 


n 


n 


(227) 


SALMON   AND   SEA   TROUT   FISHING.  229 

the  other  hand,  seldom  attain  more  than  six  or  seven 
pounds  weight.  They  abound  in  nearly  every  beck  and 
burn,  loch  and  river  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  are 
readily  taken  with  the  fly.  We  have  already  adverted  to 
their  gameness:  the  bold  dash,  wild  leap,  and  game  fight 
are  more  or  less  exemplified  Avherever  they  may  be  found. 
The  rivers  most  noted  for  these  fish  are  the  Spey,  Don, 
Tay,  and  Tweed.  The  peal,  or  salmon  peal,  as  it  is 
termed,  is  the  grilse  stage  of  these  fish,  as  it  is  also  of  the 
Sewin  (S.  Camhrious),  which  species,  though  chiefly 
found  in  Wales,  is  also  abundant  in  several  southern 
rivers  of  England.  This  fish  is  closely  allied  to  the  sea, 
white,  or  salmon  trout.  It  has  the  delicate  coloring  of 
the  salmon  parr,  the  prevailing  hue  being  a  pale  slate 
blue,  which  graduates  from  the  dull  black  upon  the  back 
to  the  pure  chaste  white  of  the  breast,  the  broad  expanse 
of  the  side  being  profusely  spotted  with  black,  and  oc- 
casionally red;  the  latter  about  the  lateral  line.  Sewin, 
in  common  with  the  whole  species,  are  subject  to  great 
variety  of  tint,  the  action  of  fresh  water  causing  them, 
after  a  protracted  stay,  to  assume  somewhat  the  color  of 
the  ordinary  brown  trout.*  Commercially  the  sewin  is 
not  nearly  so  important  a  fish  as  the  salmon  .  trout.  Its 
flesh  is  generally  preferred  as  an  article  of  diet,  but  it  is 
not  so  plentiful  as  its  northern  relative.  The  whole  mi- 
gratory body  of  the  salmonidae  family  flourish  infinitely 
better  in  the  more  northern  than  in  temperate  regions. 
The  salmon  of  Norway,  and  even  so  far  north  as  Iceland, 
attain  much  greater  dimensions  than  the  natives  of  more 
southern  latitudes.  The  sewin  is  far  less  vigorous  than 
other  members  of  the  same  family,  and  when  its  instincts 
prompt  it  to  ascend  the  rivers  to  attain  the  requisite 


*  This  peculiarity  has  been  observed  in  the  American  sea  trout.  The 
alternation  of  color  from  a  bright  silver,  their  sea  livery,  to  the  darker 
shades  and  even  to  the  vermilion  spots  of  the  trout  of  the  brooks,  has 
been  attested  by  observant  anglers. 


230  THE   SCIENTIFIC    ANGLER. 

medium  temperature  of  water  and  atmosphere  to  insure 
the  vitality  of  its  eggs,  is  more  easily  obstructed  in  its 
passage. 

Bull  Trout  have  the  most  hardy  temperament,  being 
more  vigorous  than  the  salmon,  and  owing  to  this,  gen- 
erally succeed  in  reaching  and  occupying  the  best  and 
most  favorable  spawning  beds,  before  the  salmon  put  in 
an  appearance. 

With  the  Salmon  we  have  dealt  under  the  heading  of 
'^  Habits  and  Haunts  of  Fish."  From  a  piscatory  point 
of  view,  it  is  a  truly  noble  fish,  and  affords  splendid 
sport,  as  every  angler  will  corroborate  who  has  the  pleas- 
ure of  landing  a  good  lively  fish,  after  a  hard  and  heavy 
fight.  Upon  salmon  fishing  as  a  sport  much  might  be 
written:  the  salmon  fisher  is  a  sportsman  of  an  almost 
distinct  species  from  ordinary  anglers.  The  superiority 
of  this  game  fascinates  its  followers,  and  prompts  them 
to  ignore,  not  only  all  other  and  inferior  branches  of  the 
gentle  craft,  but  by  no  means  infrequently  other  field 
sports  and  national  diversions  for  the  pursuit  of  the  sal- 
mon when  in  season.  The  true  sportsman,  however, 
pursues  his  peculiar  vocation  arduously,  zealously,  and 
spiritedly,  and  whether  it  be  Mmrod,  ramrod,  or  fishrod, 
for  the  time  being  his  whole  soul  is  thrown  into  the 
pursuit.  Salmon  fishers  now  wander  far-a-field  for  past- 
ures new;  some  enthusiastic  sportsmen  make  the  pursuit 
of  the  salmon  their  one  object  in  life,  roaming  over  the 
vast  area  of  the  European  and  American  continents,  and 
of  late  years  the  boundaries  of  these  have  been  over- 
stepped, since  the  virgin  waters  of  the  antipodes  have 
proved  so  fertile.  The  popularity  of  salmon  fishing  has 
increased  something  like  a  hundred  per  cent,  during  the 
last  half-century.  Since  the  opening  up  of  the  Scotch 
Highlands  by  the  royal  steam  route,  branch  extensions 
have  rendered  districts,  once  remote,  comparatively  easy 
of  access,  and  a  part  of  the  brief  vacation  of  the  most 


SALMON    AXD   SEA   TROUT   FISHING.  231 

eminent   statesmen   and  professional   men   and   others, 

forming  the  brain  power  and  intellect  of  the  nation,  is 

spent  annually  in  the  northern  wilds,  the  royal  emporium 

for  the  sportsman.     Here  in  the 

"Land  of  brown  heath  and  shaggy  wood," 
Land  of  the  mountain  and  the  flood, 

the  roving  disciple  of  the  rod  wanders  up  to  the  head  of 
the  river,  into  the  heart  of  the  mountains,  sometimes 
cheered  by  the  pleasant  converse  of  a  few  true  men  and 
honest  anglers  like  himself,  often  alone  with  nature  in 
her  fairest  or  wildest  loveliness.  Solitary  or  social,  his 
appreciation  of  all  the  sweet  charms  of  wild  nature  is 
ever  keen  and  lively.  Ubiquitous  even  as  the  ^^Murray"- 
bearing  British  Tourist  is  now  the  rod-carrying  British 
angler.  For  his  enthusiasm  Scotland's  most  extortionate 
hotels  have  no  terrors,  nor  do  Norway's  ruggedest  soli- 
tudes and  coarsest  fare  deter  him  from  seeking  the  lordly 
salmon  by  many  a  "fjord"  and  ^^foss." 

Before  passing  on  to  the  practical  part  of  the  art,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  enumerate  the  chief  articles  requisite 
to  a  tolerable  equipment. 

The  Rod  first  claims  our  attention.  The  remarks  anent 
the  choice  of  a  rod  for  fly-fishing — as  also  winch  and  line 
for  small  stream  fishing — apply  equally  to  salmon-fishing. 
The  lake  and  large  river  implement  is  of  necessity  of 
greater  dimensions.  The  Castle  Connell  style  of  rod  is 
tolerably  good  for  some  waters;  but  the  small  "grip"  or 
hand-hold  afforded  by  the  slender  stock  has  a  very  cramp- 
ing effect  when  the  rod  is  wielded  industriously  for  a 
lengthened  period.  The  six-feet  Joints,  with  the  delicate 
spliced  extremities,  are  very  liable  to  damage  whilst 
travelling.  Greenheart  is  undoubtedly  the  best  wood 
for  heavy  work.  There  are,  however,  good  and  bad  varie- 
ties of  every  description  of  wood  without  exception. 
Thus  we  have  indifferent  Greenheart,  Wahaba,  Maho, 
and  Locust,  just  as  often,  and  perhaps  more  so  than  not. 


232  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

made  up  into  both  salmon  and  trout  rods;  but  the 
most  deplorable  error,  the  one  to  be  most  assiduously 
avoided,  is  cross-grained  joints.  There  are  individuals 
careless  and  unprincipled  enough  to  make  up  short  or 
cross-grained  wood  in  most  rods  made  by  them.  This 
defect  is  most  noticeable  in  colored  japanned  articles. 
The  steel-centred  salmon  rod  is  a  weapon  several  feet 
shorter  than  the  usual  old-style  lengths;  a  rod  of  four- 
teen being  quite  equal  to  an  all- wood  tool  of  sixteen-and- 
a-half  feet. 

The  Line  and  Reel  need  but  little  comment.  The 
former  should  be  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  yards  in  length  for  all  round  lake  and  river  work. 
Salmon  lines,  as  well  as  trout,  are  plaited  taper,  both 
double  and  single.  Personally,  we  prefer  a  straight  line, 
no  matter  of  what  material  it  may  consist.  The  fine 
ends  are  worn  and  frayed  by  the  constant  friction,  be- 
coming soft,  limp,  and  waterlogged,  whilst  the  thicker 
parts  of  the  line,  not  coming  in  for  a  fair  share  of  the 
work,  remain  sound  and  good.  The  weakest  part  of  a 
line,  always  in  constant  casting  or  spinning,  gets  the 
twist  and  turn,  and  is  thus  more  readily  frayed  away. 
The  hair  and  silk,  cotton  cord,  and  plaited  hemp  lines 
are  inferior  both  in  point  of  strength  and  durability  to 
silk,  plaited,  and  prepared  to  resist  the  action  of  the 
water  and  friction.  The  new  Acme  line,  as  we  have 
already  pointed  out,  is  an  advance  on  the  waterproof  silk 
lines.  The  annoyance  of  a  bad  or  defective  line  can  only 
be  equalled  by  a  defective  reel.  The  salmon  reel  should 
be  bronzed,  and  when  made  with  check,  this  action 
should  be  of  steel.  Brass  cogs  are  a  delusion,  being 
simply  useless  for  heavy  wear.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing 
for  an  ordinary  reel  of  this  description  to  get  completely 
deranged,  through  the  non-durability  of  the  centre  parts. 
This  is  particulary  noticeable  in  Indian  Mahseer  fishing, 
in  which  the  wear  of  the  winch  is  heavier  still.     The  ad- 


SALMON   AND   SEA    TROUT   FISHING.  'Sd3 

vantage  of  the  centre  stock  reel  is  yet  more  exemplified 
in  the  larger  tools.  The  convenient  catching  place  for 
the  loose  line,  always  afforded  by^he  side-fitting  winches, 
is  removed;  indeed,  we  have  equal  confidence  in  the 
centre  butt  winch  doing  away  with  a  fertile  source  of 
annoyance  and  loss,  as  we  previously  had  in  respect  to 
the  revolving  plate,  when  we  perfected  that  improvment, 
as  compared  with  the  old  windlass  handle,  which  is  now 
being  discarded  in  favor  of  our  improvement.  A  small 
hole  should  be  pierced  in  the  revolving  plates  of  large 
reels  to  admit  of  oil  being  inserted  when  needed. 

How  TO  USE  EoD,  Keel  and  Line. — This  is  a  difficult 
matter  to  deal  with  on  paper.  Observation  and  practical 
instruction  are  so  superior  as  means  for  conveying  knowl- 
edge, as  compared  with  mere  verbal  instruction,  that  we 
recommend  the  novice  to  make  a  combination  of  the 
two,  by  placing  himself  under  the  guidance  of  an  ex- 
perienced salmon  fisher,  if  his  circle  of  acquaintance 
embraces  one. 

Long-casting  ranks  amongst  the  foremost  of  the  attri- 
butes to  success  and  proficiency:  and  when  some  twenty- 
five  yards  can  be  put  out  tolerably  straight  the  rodster  may 
congratulate  himself  upon  his  having  overcome  the  lead- 
ing difficulty  in  the  beginner's  path.  When  a  cast  can 
be  made  fairly  well,  the  knack  of  striking,  etc.,  follows 
as  a  natural  consequence.  This  is  readily  acquired  from 
that  best  of  tutors — experience.  We  have  invariably 
found  that  if  the  loss  of  fish  and  tackle  does  not  instil 
knowledge  and  suggest  improvement,  other  expedients 
will  be  equally  futile.  The  rules  already  laid  down  for 
casting  in  the  case  of  trout  and  grayling  hold  good  for 
salmon  fishing,  though  with  this  difference,  that  the 
implements  and  tackle  being  of  heavier  calibre,  a  greater 
distance  is  to  be  attained  by  the  action  and  impetus  given 
to  the  rod  and  line.  Precision  is  also  of  equal  conse- 
quence, as  the  rodster  has  to  cast  when  the  fish  are  in  a 


234  THE  SCIEKTIFIC   ANaLER. 

sportive  humor,  within  the  ^^ring"  of  a  rise,  just  the 
same  as  when  in  quest  of  smaller. quarry.  This  requires 
a  considerable  amount  of  application  to  accomplish  at  a 
good  distance;  but  just  as  the  experienced  cricketer 
handles  the  bat  with  tact  and  skill,  so  must  the  salmon 
fisher  wield  the  rod;  proficiency  in  both  is  the  reward  of 
constant  practice,  and  of  that  only. 

Some  anglers  acquire  a  certain  right,  and  in  some 
instances  a  left-hand  cast,  and  acting  up  to  an  orthodox 
system,  swing  without  deviation  upon  all  occasions.  The 
thing  to  do  is,  as  we  have  elsewhere  stated,  to  adapt  one's 
self  to  the  situation  at  all  times,  and  learn  to  handle 
the  tools  so  as  to  cast  in  any  direction  requisite  to  reach 
the  fish.  It  is  an  endless  source  of  pleasure  to  the  adept 
to  test  his  powers  of  casting  under  more  than  ordinarily 
difficult  circumstances.  He  well  knows  that  assiduous 
application  to  this  matter  is  repaid  by  exceptional  sport, 
and  that  too,  when  but  little  is  doing  in  the  well  thrashed 
open. 

When  a  fish  is  hooked,  the  variety  of  expedients  re- 
sorted to  is  frequently  considerable,  one  of  the  most 
common  is  that  of  '' jiggering."*  In  this  a  side  to  side 
motion  is  described  by  the  line  in  the  water.  This  is 
caused  by  the  fish  endeavoring  to  rake  or  rub  out  the 
hook  in  the  bed  of  the  water,  or  upon  a  flag  or  sub- 
merged stone.  It  is  believed  by  some  to  be  caused  by  the 
mere  shaking  of  the  fish's  head  in  mid-water,  but  this  is 
pure  nonsense.  We  have  watched  the  action  of  jigger- 
ing  fish  in  clear  water  often,  at  almost  every  angle,  and 
have  generally  found  that  a  continued  **  jigger  "  bodes  ill 
for  the  consummation  of  the  capture.  During  a  late 
visit  to  the  Hebrides  we  experienced  a  rather  striking 
instance  of  this.     Upon  the  occasion  in  question  we  had 

*Our  black  bass,  when  hooked  in  running  shallow  waters  "jigger;" 
at  least  I  have  had  them  to  go  through  a  modified  form  of  the  action 
described  in  the  text. 


SALMON   AND  SEA  TROUT  FISHING.  2'35 

liooked  a  good  salmon,  but  at  the  expiration  of  two- 
thirds  of  an  hour  had  not  succeeded  in  landing  it,  owing 
to  our  peculiar  position.  We  had  hooked  our  fish  whilst 
bank  fishing  upon  a  perpendicular  rock,  some  six  or 
eight  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  During  the 
greater  part  of  this  time  the  salmon  had  been  active,  so 
much  so,  that  more  than  once  our  fine  gear  was  in  immi- 
nent danger  of  being  severed.  After  these  plunges  and 
wild  determined  rushes  to  and  fro  had  subsided,  our 
quarry  finally  settled,  in  deep  water,  near  the  rock  upon 
which  we  stood.  There  an  unpleasant  jiggering  motion 
was  described  by  the  line. 

In  this  instance,  the  water  being  comparatively  clear, 
the  movements  of  the  fish  were  plainly  discernible.  Some 
ten  feet  or  so  from  its  surface  he  was  energetically  rub- 
bing his  snout  upon  a  jutting  part  of  the  rock,  from 
right  to  left,  and  left  to  right,  without  a  moment's  ces- 
sation. We  ran  paper  down  the  line  in  the  usual  way, 
to  no  purpose,  the  exasperating  ^* rub-rub"  still  con- 
tinuing. Donald,  the  keeper,  had  meanwhile  set  off  to 
explore  for  pebbles,  but  even  this  chance  was  denied,  he 
returning  as  he  went,  empty-handed.  As  a  last  desperate 
effort,  our  pocket  key-ring  was  fixed  on  the  line  (it  being 
split  steel),  and  run  down.  No  sooner  was  this  accom- 
plished than  the  fish  dashed  away  towards  the  open. 
Now  for  the  first  time  the  thought  struck  us  that  if  the 
fish  was  not  taken  our  keys  were  irrecoverably  lost.  Ee- 
gretting  our  impetuosity,  we  cautiously  gave  and  took 
line  as  occasion  required.  The  presence  of  the  nose  ring 
and  jingling  appendages,  meanwhile  kept  the  fish  in 
action.  This,  however,  speedily  told  upon  him,  and 
finally  he  was  safely  gaffed  in  a  more  accessible  situation. 
Since  this  occurred,  we  have  had  a  number  of  small 
bright  metal  rings  made,  which  we  have  found  most 
useful  for  both  sulky  and  jiggering  fish. 

Another  fsequent  freak  of  the  fish  is  to  make  for  un- 


236  THE   SCIENTIFIC   AKGLER. 

derneath  the  boat,  when  the  rodster  occupies  one;  there 
the  tackle  is  in  danger  of  damage  from  the  rough  keel, 
even  if  the  fisherman  is  quick  enough  to  pass  the  rod's 
point  around  the  stem  or  stern  in  time  to  avoid  a  dead 
wrench  upon,  and  probable  smash,  of  the  tackle.  The 
sulking  propensities  of  salmon  when  hooked  and  wearied 
by  futile  efforts  to  escape,  are  well-known  traits  of  their 
character.  It  is  very  tantalizing  to  await  the  pleasure  of 
a  stubborn  fish  of  this  description.  There  are  instances 
upon  record  of  anglers  staying  through  the  dark  hours 
with  a  sulky  fish.  All  that  we  would  say  further  upon 
this  subject  is,  that  the  necessity  of  such  a  thing  is  en- 
tirely obviated  by  the  use  of  any  small  metal  contrivance 
that  will  serve  to  drop  down  the  line  to  arouse  the  fish 
from  its  lethargy  or  persistent  doggedness  of  disposition. 
In  river  fishing  for  salmon,  every  stream,  pool,  and 
likely  eddy,  should  be  well  and  carefully  fished.  When 
the  gleam  of  a  fish  is  discerned  below  the  fly,  and  no  rise 
ensues,  a  change  of  flies  should  be  made.  Salmon  for 
fastidiousness  stand  unequalled.  Upon  certain  days  they 
take  with  avidity  a  certain  kind  of  fly,  while  for  some 
time  afterwards  it  may  be  refused  for  another  and  totally 
different  description.  Upon  the  most  frequented  salmon 
waters  peculiar  flies  are  used  of  local  notoriety.  "We  do 
not  believe,  ourselves,  in  the  hard  and  fast  rules  given  as 
to  this  or  that  special  dressing  being  infallibly  successful 
upon  any  specified  water,  and  on  its  uselessness  upon 
another  adjoining  lake  or  river.  The  salmon  fly  is  but  a 
fanciful  combination,  arranged  with  a  view  to  the  general 
artistic  effect;  and  as  nature  presents  no  model  for  man 
to  imitate,  the  fanciful  amalgamations  of  feathers,  tinsel, 
fur,  and  wool,  are  closed  upon  by  the  sportive  and  capri- 
cious fish,  in  a  mere  spirit  of  wantonness,  or  because  of 
its  being  novel.  We  have  often  (and  we  doubt  not  that 
a  few  of  our  readers  have  had  similar  experiences)  sur- 
prised native  rodsters  by  the  effect  of  a  non-observance 


SALMON    AND   SEA   TROUT   FISHING.  237 

of  their  given  rules  of  procedure.  A  strange  fly,  whether 
it  happens  to  be  sombre  or  gay,  frequently  does  wonders 
amongst  these  fickle  fish.  Change,  in  this  respect,  is 
far  more  effective  in  influencing  the  net  yield  than  can 
easily  be  credited. 

Salmon  flies  exist  in  myriads  of  varieties,  and  to  at- 
tempt to  enumerate  the  whole  of  those  in  general  esteem 
would  be  a  needless  task.     The  following  are  a  few  of 
the  standard  killers  of  universal  repute:* — 
The  Jock  Scott.  The  Wasp. 

''    Black  Dose.  ''    Doctor. 

"    Spey  Dog.  *'    Rainbow. 

*^    Butcher.  **    Captain. 

'^    Shannon.  *^    Lightning. 

*^    Parson.  "    Blacker's  Patterns. 

'^    Ranger.  etc.,  etc. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  we  commend  the  following: — 
The  Spanker,  the  Rob  Roy,  the  Spartan,  the  Tam  o' 
Shanter,  and  the  Mac  Sporran,  for  a  description  of  which 
see  Salmon  Fly-making.  The  impartiality  of  this  fish 
towards  any  particular  lure  or  class  of  artificials  for  all 
seasons  and  occasions  is  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
pedantic  partiality  of  many  anglers,  who  pin  their  faith 
upon  an  odd  fly  or  so,  that  has  happened  to  do  something 
exceptional  in  their  hands,  it  may  be;  but  it  is  of  small 
use  trying  to  convince  these  of  their  error.  Prejudice 
and  obstinacy  satisfy  them  that  they  are  infallibly  right. 
While  fishing  some  few  years  ago  on  Loch  Nell,  we  took 
an  exceptionally  large  salmon,  whose  habitual  haunt  was 
in  one  particular  spot,  near  a  submerged  rock.  Upon 
our  return  to  the  inn,  the  landlord  eagerly  inquired  as  to 
what  part  of  the  water  he  had  been  extracted  from;  and 
our  capture  proved  to  be  an  old.  acquaintance  of  his,  a 

*The  majority  of  these  flies  can  be  bought  from  American  dealers  in 

fishing-tackle. 


238  THE  SCIENTIFIC   AI^GLER. 

fish  that  had  nevertheless  cut  his  acquaintance  very  fre- 
quently according  to  his  account.  Though  the  form  and 
dimensions  of  the  fish  greatly  interested  our  worthy  host, 
the  fly  that  had  been  instrumental  in  his  capture  monopo- 
lized his  chief  attention.  Ever  after  this  event  the  land- 
lord played  the  '  *  Spanker  "  without  cessation  or  intermis- 
sion. Subsequently,  whenever  the  man  was  seen  with 
a  fish,  the  query  *'what  fly?'  was  certain  to  elicit  the 
reply  **  Spanker!  sir;"  indeed,  among  the  visitors,  the 
virtues  of  the  Spanker  was  so  well  worn  a  topic,  that  the 
subject  was  finally  suppressed  at  first  scent. 

Spinning  and  Trolling  for  sea  trout  and  salmon  are 
common  practices  in  the  north,  especially  upon  the  lochs, 
where  the  bait  is  spun  by  a  propelled  boat  at  a  distance 
of  fifty  yards  or  so  in  its  wake.  Whenever  the  fish  refuse 
to  rise,  spinning  may  with  advantage  be  resorted  to; 
indeed,  mid-water  fishing  may,  under  these  circumstances, 
often  be  practised  with  signal  success,  though  as  a  gen- 
eral thing,  it  does  not  yield  the  sport  of  surface  fishing. 
Small  fish  of  almost  any  description,  when  from  four  to 
six  inches  in  length,  may  be  used.  The  best  artificial 
baits  are  the  metal  ones,  the  "Universal,"  ** Excelsior," 
''Devon,"  and  '^ Spoon." 

The  Eed  Caterpillar  is  as  killmg  a  lure  for  salmon  and 
sea  trout  when  they  are  not  rising,  as  it  is  for  common 
brown  trout,  etc.  It  is  used  in  precisely  the  same  way, 
but  is  constructed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  much  larger ; 
the  loop  too,  at  the  head,  should  be  of  double  salmon 
gut.  Black  palmers  with  silver  twist  are  also  good,  but 
not  to  be  compared  with  the  red,  as  the  habitual  users  of 
both  can  testify.  If  there  is  anything  objectionable  in 
the  use  of  the  Caterpillar  for  sea  trout  and  salmon,  it  is 
the  partiality  of  the  smaller  fry  for  them  ;  they,  especially 
the  brown  trout,  are  really  boring  in  their  incessant  at- 
tentions. At  the  end  of  a  day  upon  the  Awe  in  Argyle- 
shire,  when  we  had  been  more  than  usually  pestered  in 


SALMON   AKD   SEA   TROUT   FISHI]S"G.  239 

this  manner,  the  following  colloquy  ensued  with  Gibby, 
the  gillie  in  charge  of  the  boat. 

*' Faith,  and  dun  yer  ken  what  fysshe  wa'en  ta'en  the 
day,  weth  the  hairy  worren  ?  " 

*^No!" 

**  Wal,  twanty-four  dozen  sma'  throut  jest — an  they 
twa  white  fysshe — sure,  it's  a  fearsome  baste,  an'  a  regular 
kill  devil." 

To  those  anglers  who  habitually  smoke  whilst  fishing, 
and  their  name  is  legion,  we  would  tender  a  word  of  ad- 
yice.  Never  carry  Vesuvius  loose  in  your  waistcoat 
pocket,  or  you  may  perchance  be  troubled  with  a  touch 
of  heartburn  externally,  as  was  the  experience  of  the 
writer  on  one  occasion  whilst  playing  a  fish  from  the 
banks  of  the  Tweed.  We  had  unconsciously  given  the 
receptacle  of  the  pipe  lights  a  touch  with  the  butt  end  of 
the  rod,  when  the  whole  ignited,  the  result  of  the  con- 
flagration being  loss  of  the  fish,  and  the  spoliation  of 
certain  garments. 

We  may  here  also  observe,  that  when  landing  a  fish 
with  a  short-handled  gaff  upon  a  high  bank  over  deep 
water,  it  is  not  always  safe  to  be  backed  with  a  well-filled 
creel,  for  should  the  creel  happen  to  find  its  way  to  the 
front,  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  you  may  feel  as  we 
did  once,  viz.,  that  a  cold  water  plunge  is  inevitable 
under  the  circumstances. 

In  salmon  as  in  trout  fishing,  the  location  of  a  fish 
poised  for  feeding  or  perhaps  rising,  requires  often  a  little 
reconnoitring.  The  course  of  the  water  in  his  immediate 
vicinity  should  be  noted,  and  the  lure  presented  accord- 
ingly. In  order  to  circumvent  exceptionally  large  fish 
more  particularly,  it  is  by  no  means  advisable  to  cast 
haphazard  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fish  before  the  distance 
IS  rightly  calculated,  or  the  course  of  the  water  appre- 
ciated. If  it  is  your  earnest  desire  to  take  the  fish  seen 
rising,  like  an  efficient  general  you  must  take  in  the 


240  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

bearing  of  the  situation,  with  a  view  to  so  presenting  the 
lure  as  to  leave  nothing  wanting  in  skill  and  judgment 
upon  the  part  of  the  rodster. 


CHAPTER  XVL- 


ABOUT     HOOKS. 

CRIPPLED  HOOKS  ;  THE  OVER-BARBED  HOOK  ;  DEFECTS  IN  TEMPER, 
ETC.  ;  THE  LIMERICK  :  KENDAL-SNECK  ;  CARLISLE  ;  KIRBY  ; 
THE   "swan"  bend;  THE  NEW  EYED  HOOKS. 

In  a  country  which  takes  the  lead  in  piscatorial  pur- 
suits, and  whose  improvements  serve  as  the  type  and 
pattern  for  other  nations,  constant  progress  should  at 
least  be  made,  and  improvements  achieved  in  order  to 
retain  the  position  gained.  If  there  is  one  thing  more 
than  another,  in  this  branch  of  industry  that  we  excel  in, 
it  is  the  manufacture  of  our  hooks.  These  are  in  general 
use  upon  the  continent,  in  the  colonies,  and  everywhere 
where  the  angling  art  is  practised.  It  will,  therefore,  be 
readily  conceded  by  all  who  have  devoted  attention  to  the 
subject,  that  more  attention  is  due  to  this  important  item 
in  the  angler's  equipage  and  in  our  national  commerce, 
than  has,  of  late  years,  been  bestowed  upon  it.  Previous 
to  our  suggesting  any  improvements  in  detail,  we  intend 
calling  attention  to  a  few  very  common  defects  in  hooks, 
as  generally  constructed,  to  which  may  be  directly  traced 
much  unnecessary  loss  and  disaster. 

The  excessively  bony  nature  of  the  mouth  of  most  fish 
has  frequently  a  very  trying  effect  upon  the  hook;  there- 
fore, any  little  deficiency  in  its  make,  or  manner  of  con- 
struction, leads  to  untold  evils.     In  order  to  render  our- 


ABOUT   HOOKS.  241 

selves  intelligible  to  the  reader  we  shall  first  describe  the 
usual  system  of  making  the  hook.     First,  then,  the  wire 
is  struck  off  in  given  lengths,  in  accordance  with  the  size 
of  the  hook  required ;  next,  the  point  is  formed  and  the 
shank  reduced  by  a  few  strokes  of  the  file ;  and  next,  the 
barb  is  cut  by  means  of  a  large  knife.     All  is  now  ready 
for  bending,  which  is  one  of  the  most  particular  items  in 
the  construction,  as  the  operation  decides  the  shape,  and 
consequently,  the  particular  species  of  hook  to  be  pro- 
duced.    This  is  quickly  done  by  means  of  a  small  steel 
block  around  which  the  wire  is  bent,  the  shape  of  the 
block  varying  according  to  the  particular  bend  required. 
Now  comes  the  final  operation,  viz.,  that  of  tempering. 
This  is  done  in  a  large  pan  over  a  slow  furnace.    Millions 
of  books  are  frequently  tempered  in  one  operation,  there- 
fore the  greatest  care  should  be  bestowed  upon  this  im- 
portant point ;  but  of  this  more  anon.     The  most  fertile 
source  of  complaint  is,  we  believe,  the  undue  weakness 
of  the  majority  of  hooks  at  the  barb  (see  diagram  VI., 
fig.  2).     A  deeply  barbed  hook  may  be  safely  discarded 
as  being  too  dangerous  to  use.     There  is  no  earthly  ne- 
cessity for  it.     Not  only  is  the  wire  half  cut  through  by 
the  operation,  but  the  point  of  the  hook  is  forced  quite 
out  of  the  straight  line  ;  thus,  not  only  requiring  heavier 
striking  to  hook  a  fish  properly,  but  being  more  liable  to 
snap  by  the  sudden  strain.     The  very  action  of  inserting 
the  bearding  knife  too  deeply  causes  the  point  to  project 
outwards  inadvertently  (see  Plate  6,  fig.  2),  giving  it  a 
"scratch  and  let  go"  appearance,  and  no  less  effect ;  in- 
deed, there  are  but  two  alternatives  for  a  hook  of  this 
description  when  a  fish  is  caught  upon  the  gristly  or  bony 
part  of  the  mouth — (1)  to  scratch  as  described,  or  (2)  to 
break  clean  off  at  the  barb  near  the  point  of  the  hook. 
We  have  seen  hooks  fitted  with  costly  salmon  flies,  nine- 
tenths  of  them  being  quite  useless,  having  broken  at  this 
identical  point.     A  batch  was  shown  to  us  by  (the  late) 
11 


242  THE   SCIENTIFIC   Ai?-GLER. 

Mr.  Frank  Buckland,  H.  M.  Inspector  of  Inland  Fisheries, 
numbering  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  all  broken. 
The  original  value  ranged  from  five  shillings  to  one  guinea 
each.  *  Nine  of  these  were  broken  at  the  sharp  bend  of 
the  Limerick  hook,  the  whole  of  the  remainder  at  the 
barb.  The  loss  incurred  at  this  rate  is  considerable, 
and  when  we  take  the  fish  into  account,  it  is  simply 
monstrous. 

This  defect  is  by  no  means  confined  to  the  Limerick 
bend  of  hook ;  it  is  frequently  more  conspicuous  in  the 
Sneck  or  Kendal  bent  hooks,  so  universally  used  in  trout 
fishing  :  vide  the  experience  of  everybody.  Another  point 
of  paramount  importance  is  the  tempering,  as  when  this 
is  done  in  a  defective  manner,  by  being  left  too  high  or 
too  low,  disappointment  and  loss  ensue  as  the  inevitable 
result. 

Among  non-japanned  hooks  uselessly  soft  ones  may 
sometimes  be  distinguished  by  the  color,  as  when  steel  is 
left  a  very  light  blue,  it  is  invariably  soft  and  pliable. 
The  best  tempered  hooks  are  left  a  purple-blue  color.  In 
japanned  hooks  the  only  reliable  way  of  detecting  faulty 
ones  is  to  test  them  by  sticking  the  point  in  a  piece  of 
porous  wood  or  cork,  and  applying  a  heavy  though  steady 
strain  to  the  shank.  Our  idea  of  a  perfect  Limerick  salmon 
hook  we  give  upon  Plate  6,  fig.  3.  The  distance  from  the 
bend  to  the  point  is  greatly  diminished ;  the  barb  and 
point  being  short  and  sharp  are  well  adapted  to  take  good 
and  firm  hold  upon  a  hard  or  soft  substance.  The  main 
strength  of  metal,  too,  is  just  where  most  needed,  namely, 
at  the  sudden  turn  of  the  bend,  which,  it  may  be  ob- 
served, is  not  nearly  so  sharp  or  decisive  as  in  the  old 
style  Limerick.  Experience  teaches,  so  says  the  maxim. 
Experience  long  since  taught  us  that  changes  in  this 
respect  were  absolutely  necessary,  and  for  an  equally  long 


*  Rather  costly  salmon  flies — ^fifteen  to  sixty  dollars  per  dozen. 


ABOUT  HOOKS.  243 

period  experience,  the  self-same  teacher,  has  proved  the 
hook  now  submitted  to  be  perfectly  exempt  from  the  evils 
previously  pointed  out.  The  Kendal  Sneck,  to  which 
we  have  already  made  some  allusion,  is  the  bend  generally 
adopted  for  trout  flies.  It  is  often  made  from  very  fine 
wire,  which  renders  it  useless  for  a  heavy  fish.  This  is 
the  hook  most  generally  used  for  dry-fly  fishing.  A  ju- 
diciously tapered  shank  will  reduce  the  weight  whilst 
retaining  the  full  strength  round  the  bend  requisite  for 
an  emergency.  This,  as  we  have  already  pointed  out, 
is  of  the  most  vital  importance ;  an  exhibition  of  false 
economy  in  this  matter  will  cause  the  angler's  skill  to 
avail  nothing.  We  know  of  no  more  tantalizing  thing 
than  to  lose  the  heaviest  fish  of  the  day,  month,  or  season, 
through  a  defective  hook.  AVhen  once  a  fish  is  well 
hooked  upon  sound  ^'^tack,"  it  is  the  rodster's  own  fault 
if  he  fails  to  land  it.  A  spell  at  the  salmon  will  frequent- 
ly put  out  the  delicacy  of  the  trout  fisher's  touch,  and 
he,  by  too  sanguine  striking,  will  lose  every  fish  he  hooks, 
either  by  breaking  away  the  hold,  or  otherwise  the  hook. 
The  range  of  Kendal  hooks,  given  upon  the  plate,  shows 
the  relative  strength  and  sizes  of  what  we  have  used  for 
trouting  flies  for  many  years.  The  Kendal  hook  should 
be  slightly  crooked  or  twisted  in  the  bend,  as  the  body 
and  the  hackle  standing  out  will,  to  some  extent,  serve 
to  guard  the  point.  A  great  many  of  the  short  rises  one 
experiences  sometimes,  are  due  to  the  non-observance  of 
this  rule,  the  fish  taking  the  fly  with  the  skin  of  his 
teeth,  so  to  speak,  the  point  fails  to  take  any  hold  what- 
ever. The  wide  ^^  span  "  of  the  salmon  hook  obviates  the 
necessity  of  this.  The  trout  hook  then,  for  the  same 
reason,  should  have  reasonable  scope  in  this  respect,  so 
as  to  be  capable  of  taking  broad  hold  and  to  retain  it. 
The  point  and  barb  should  be  anything  but  ''proud  ;" 
the  evils  of  this  are  far  more  objectionable,  whilst  being 
quite  as  prevalent,  in  smaller  and  lighter  hooks,  than  has 


244  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

been  shown  in  the  case  of  the  heavy  Limerick.  The  re- 
lative weight-sustaining  powers  of  straight-pointed  and 
*' rake-pointed"  hooks  may  be  exemplified  in  the  follow- 
ing manner.  Take  a  "rake"  pointed,  deeply-barbed 
Limerick,  Kendal,  or  any  other  bend,  and  take  also  a 
"straight"  pointed  hook  of  the  same  size  and  strength 
of  metal.  Secure  a  length  of  gut  to  the  shank  of  each 
hook,  and  stick  the  points  slightly  into  a  deal  board,  and 
now  attach  a  spring-balance  to  each  piece  of  gut,  and 
pull.  The  staying  powers  of  the  "straight  point"  will 
be  found  to  be  almost  double  that  of  the  others. 

The  eyed  hook  (Plate  6,  fig.  4)  is  a  new  bend,  the  joint 
production  of  Capt.  Bankart,  Leicester;  Capt.  Turle,  and 
Mr.  H.  S.  Hall,  of  Clifton.  The  bend  is  a  sort  of  cross 
between  the  old  Kirby  and  the  Limerick.  The  color  is  of 
a  light  brown,  like  that  of  an  ordinary  steel  pen.  This  is 
a  decided  improvement  on  the  japanning  system,  and  de- 
serves to  be  more  generally  adopted.  The  advantages  of 
the  loop  at  the  head  of  a  made-up  artificial  are  consider- 
able, the  loss  occasioned  by  the  gut  fraying  or  necking 
off  being  greatly  diminished,  if  not  entirely  obviated. 
All  large  or  heavy  flies  have  of  necessity  to  be  dressed 
looped.  In  the  case  of  the  very  finest,  for  dry-fly  or 
grayling  fishing,  it  is  scarcely  so  advisable,  especially  in 
still  waters,  or  the  chalk  streams  of  Hampshire,  where, 
as  in  the  lower  portions  of  those  of  Derby  and  neighbor- 
ing counties,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  float  the  dry  fly 
over  every  fish.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  loop  projects 
upwards.  This  in  a  manner  casts  the  weight  upon  the 
wings,  and  preserves  the  equilibrium  of  the  "artificial." 
The  gut  may  be  attached  to  the  loop,  as  in  the  case  of 
Salmon  flies,  by  means  of  the  slip  knot,  known  as  the 
"Carrick  bend,"  with  this  difference,  that  the  gut  is 
passed  through  the  underside  of  the  loop  first. 

Hooks  used  for  spinning  purposes  are  required  to  be 
very  heavily  ironed,  more  especially  for  pike ;  weak  trian- 


ABOUT   HOOKS.  245 

gles  are  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception.  Weight  here 
is  no  detriment  but  rather  an  advantage.  In  selecting 
hooks,  the  weight  they  are  required  to  bear  should  always 
be  taken  into  consideration,  and  the  thickness  of  the 
wire  chosen  accordingly.  Treble  hooks  for  salmon  and 
pike  fishing  in  particular,  are  much  too  delicate,  general- 
ly speaking.  We  have  seen  several  triangles  broken  at 
the  strike  of  a  heavy  fish.  The  temper  of  many  triangles, 
or  brazed  hooks  sold,  has  been  affected  during  the  brazing 
operation.  The  plan  generally  adopted  over-tempers 
them,  thus  causing  them  to  be  hard  and  brittle ;  and  as 
two  or  sometimes  three  and  more  hooks  have  frequently 
to  be  driven  home,  the  odds  are  that  il  the  fish  does  not 
break  them  the  rodsfcer  often  does.  Breakages  are  so  rife 
in  the  case  of  brazed  hooks,  owing  mainly  to  the  causes 
above  named,  that  many  anglers  have  been  led  to  eschew 
them  altogether;  but  the  fault  lies. largely  with  the 
angler  who  selects  them  too  fine  and  delicate  in  the 
metal. 

The  hooks  requisite  for  successful  roach  fishing  should 
be  moderately  long-shanked..  We  prefer  the  ^^Sneck" 
to  the  '^ round"  or  Carlisle  bend,  the  latter  being  fre- 
quently too  short  in  the  shank,  and  having  much  too 
exaggerated  a  '^span  "  in  the  bend  to  work  with  a  short 
shank  properly.  The  remarks  anent  weak  wire  apply 
equally  to  round  bend  roach  hooks ;  and  if  we  combine 
with  the  above  the  usual  fault  of  a  turned-out,  rakish- 
looking  point,  no  room  is  left  for  surprise  at  the  many 
disasters  incurred  by  their  use.  The  greater  utility  of  a 
well-proportioned  hook  may  be  easily  ascertained  by  the 
following  simple  experiment.  Take  two  hooks — a  mod- 
erately long-shanked  one  nicely  tapered,  with  a  straight 
point,  and  a  short-shanked  hook  with  a  turned-out  point. 
Attach  gut  to  each.  Now  procure  a  small  piece  of  parch- 
ment or  thin  card-board,  upon  which  take  good  hold  with 
both  hooks  and  endeavor  to  penetrate  this  by  applying 


246  THE   SCIENTIFIC   ANGLER. 

equal  pressure  to  each.  If  this  is  done  at  all  evenly  the 
long-shanked  hook  will  quickly  pierce  the  substance, 
making  a  clean  incision ;  meanwhile  the  attitude  of  the 
remaining  hook  scarcely  admits  of  any  impression  being 
made  at  all,  a  perfectly  flat  surface  being  presented  from 
the  tip  of  the  point  to  the  end  of  the  barb,  which  effect- 
ually prevents  any  incision. 

Most  of  the  various  forms  or  bends  of  the  hooks  now 
in  use  were  introduced  before  the  advent  of  the  present 
century.  Of  these,  however,  there  have  since  been  many 
modifications  and  variations.  One  of  the  oldest  bends  is 
the  '*Kirby,"the  originator,  Charles  Kirby,  having  lived 
and  flourished  in  the  seventeenth  century.  In  the  third 
edition  of  an  old  book  on  Angling,  published  in  1700, 
entitled,  *'  The  Angler's  Vade  Mecum," — a  copy  of  which 
we  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  say  we  have  in  our  possession 
— the  following  quaint  advertisement  appears  appended 
to  the  preface  : — 

''At  the  Sign  of  the  Fish,  in  Black  Horse  Alley  near 
Fleet  Bridge,  liveth  Will  Browne,  who  maketh  all  sorts 
of  Fishing  Rods,  and  selleth  all  sorts  of  Fishing  Tackle  ; 
also  Charlie  Kirby's  Hooks,  with  Worms,  Gentles  and 
Fly's ;  and  also  the  East  India  Weed,  which  is  the  only 
thing  for  Trout,  Carp,  and  Bottom  Fishing,  first  being 
well  soaked  for  half-an-hour  before  you  use  it  in  water, 
being  of  a  brittle  nature,  if  not  moistened  before  used, 
and  then  proves  so  strong  and  fine,  of  a  water-colour, 
that  it  deceives  the  Fish,  much  more  than  Hair  or  Silk. 
Xote — That  Kirby's  Hooks  are  known  by  the  fineness  of 
the  Wyer  and  Strength,  and  many  Shops  sell  Counter- 
feit for  his,  which  prove  prejudicial  to  the  User.  The 
true  Kirby's  are  to  be  sold  by  Will  Browne  and  nowhere 
Else." 

Kirby's  hooks,  however,  have  long  since  been  discarded, 
except  in  perch  and  such  like  fishing.  Another  hook  that 
used  to  be  greatly  in  vogue  was  the  ''Staple  bend." 


ABOUT   HOOKS.  247 

Sproat's,  too,  have  now  about  gone  out.*  Those  in  gen- 
eral use  at  the  present  day  are  the  Sneck  or  Kendal,  the 
Limerick,  and  Carlisle,  or  round  bend ;  for  eels,  the  bend 
known  as  the  "Shepherd's  Crook,"  is  much  used. 

For  fine  grayling  fishing,  perhaps,  a  really  strong  and 
delicate  hook  is  more  essential  than  in  any  other  style  or 
system  of  angling.  The  grayling  is  a  much  more  fastid- 
ious fish  than  the  trout,  and  is  moreover  the  most  tender- 
mouthed  fish  that  swims.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for 
the  angler,  when  fishing  for  grayhng,  to  find  a  portion 
of  the  jaw  of  an  escaped  fish  remaining  upon  his  hook  ; 
more  especially  when  rough  bottom  tackle  is  used.  The 
hook  useful  for  trout  is,  generally  speaking,  too  large  and 
heavy  for  grayling,  the  excessively  small  flies  he  usually 
prefers  being  difficult  to  copy  when  a  clumsy  and  heavy 
hook  is  employed.  There  has  long  been  a  want  felt  of 
a  suitable  hook  for  grayling,  to  be  at  once  light,  durable, 
and  effective  in  shape  and  make.  Many  experiments  we 
have  tried  in  years  past  with  the  view  of  surmounting 
this  difficulty,  but  failure  was  the  characteristic  feature 
of  each,  until  we  accidentally  hit  upon  a  peculiar  bend 
(Plate  6,  fig.  5),  which  was  found  to  work  with  unusual 
success.  Conjointly  with  several  friends  of  the  rod,  we 
have  tested  this  hook  thoroughly,  and  with  perfectly 
satisfactory  results. 

This  hook  has  been  designated  the  "Swan "-bend,  and 
as  such  it  is  known  amongst  the  few  anglers  who  have 
hitherto  kept  it  a  secret.  It  may  be  gathered  from  what 
has  been  previously  stated  that  the  faults  and  deficiencies, 
ap  well  as  the  merits  of  hooks,  rest  to  a  great  extent  with 
the  manufacturer. 


*  The  Sproat  hook,  if  not  made  of  the  best  material  is  certainly  a  de- 
lusion and  a  snare— not  for  the  fish,  but  the  angler.  When  it  is  made 
right  and  of  the  very  best  material,  it  has  in  my  opinion  no  superior. 


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"  II.— Historical  and  Geo- 
graphical. 

"  m.- -Colonization  in  Colo- 
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"  rV.— Irrigation  —  Measure- 
ment of  Water. 

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"  IX.— Boulder  and  Clear 
Creek  Valleys. 

'•         X.— South  Platte  Valley. 

"         X  I.— Southern  Colorado. 


Chapter  XII.— San  Luis  Park. 

"         XIII.— Southwestern    Colo- 
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"         XIV.— Artesian  Wells— Res- 
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"         XV.— Apiculture. 

XVL- Fruit  Growing. 
"         XVII.— Questions  and  An- 
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XVm.— Colorado    Agricul- 
tural (.'ollege. 
"         XIX.— Farming  Journals. 
XX.— Cattle  and  Sheep. 
XXI.— The  Railway  System 

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XXII. -Garden    Culture  by 
Irrigation. 


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